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4 months ago - 671

the sweeter melody: Jesus in Ruth.

thesweetermelody:

Most Christian girls are aware of the book of Ruth in some form or another. It is the love story of the Bible. A great test of faith, and a picture of womanhood. Because of Ruth’s obedience, she was chiseled into the line of Christ. she had a son whom Boaz and herself named Obed. He had a son that…

4 months ago - 67

the sweeter melody: Advanced man-getting. Use only for good, not evil.

elicec:

*Reblogged ‘cause of Susanna’s input. Such a wise young woman.

unkaglen:

Anonymous asked: I have a HUGE crush on this guy, we both go to the same college, and he’s studying to go into South American missions, which I find very hot, and I just want to marry him and move to Brazil and have his babies. So, how can I tell if he has feelings for me? And if he doesn’t, how can I… get him to have feelings for me? Help me Unka Glen!

Unka Glen answered: You betcha my sister, bless your heart, you’re my kind of woman! This, my people, is how you fall in love. You jump on in there and go for broke. Your heart may get squashed, but heck, at least you can say you gave it your all. And if you aren’t willing to put it all on the line, well, maybe you don’t really deserve the big romantic stuff.

Here is your guide to advanced man-getting. Do this right, and he’ll be chasing you, thinking it was his idea all along:

1. you know that old cliche about “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”? It’s a cliche because it’s true. College guys are stuck eating the worst food. They’re desperate, and you’ve got them right where you want them. Does this mean you need to learn to cook? Sister, please. You’re a woman of God, about to be a missionary. You find a way to fake it until you make it.

You can re-heat can’t ya? Yeah, okay, good enough. I had a girlfriend once who called my mother for all her recipes on my favorite foods. I was wrapped so far around her finger, she could have asked me to jump to the moon and back for her. A recent study showed that men think about sex 19 times a day, the same study showed that men think about food 18 times a day. ‘Nuff said.

2. Speaking of sex, here’s where we have to walk a very fine line. If you act slutty you send one kind of wrong message, but if you wear baggy sweats and turtlenecks every day, you look like someone who is simply not in touch with her femininity or sexuality, and that’s a worse message to send. 

Here’s the thing, most guys rightly suspect that all those slutty women are boring in bed. Not so for the kind of gal who is sweet and girly and nurturing and loving and giving and loves Jesus… and who waits until she’s married, and then makes love passionately, athletically, gymnastically, in a way a brother better be ready for. Like he better hydrate himself and watch his electrolytes.

Carry yourself with that sense that you’ve got a secret garden of delights, BUT if you like it, you better put a ring on it, or all these lovely bits and pieces are never gonna be yours. Wear some pretty underwears that make you feel all racy, and give him that look like you know something he doesn’t.

3. Don’t play hard to get. There’s nothing less sexy than those gals on the TV or movies who act all cool and aloof and mannish about sex and dating. Be a woman of passion, the kind of woman who wears her heart in her sleeve, and falls head over heels. 

4. Make a man feel like a man. Feel his arm and tell him he has big muscles. Tell him that shirt makes his shoulders look nice. When I was in college I worked at Target, selling sporting goods, and I had cut my usually very long hair off into a sort of military buzz cut. A cougar-aged woman came into the store and ran her hand along the top of my head and told me it felt like when she has her stallion’s mane cut.

I don’t know what happened next because I blacked out after that.

5. Be yourself. You have a girly side, and you need to let that side do it’s thing. You have an adventurous side, and you need to let that out too. You obviously have a spiritual side and you need to let that show in the context of a male-female relationship.

6. Grab this brother and ask him if you can pray for him. Trust me, he will notice you. Most men of God, especially those who are thinking about full time ministry, are worried about finding a wife that can keep up with them. You send him a message that he might have trouble keeping up with you, and you will have his full attention.

7. Smile. That’s your biggest weapon. My wife still gets away with murder every time she flashes me that smile.

Bonus point: rent the classic movie Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. It’s all in there. 

I have been asked by a fellow blogger to do a post upon this, after she strongly disagreed with the content. And after reading, I too so disagree, and I so hope that this is a joke of the likes. If it is, then, ladies, observe nonetheless. I have seen so many young women reblog with, “EL OH EL. This is funny. Gonna try it.” I just cannot fathom that this should be a topic that one should joke about. To the questioner, I would seek counsel from your pastor, and respectable female elders in the church. I also believe it’s inappropriate for an older married man to talk to a younger college aged girl in such terms like, “makes love passionately.”

Lighten up, Susanna? Oh please. Have you seen the state of Christianity when it comes to relationships? It’s nothing but a blood bath. Young women actively pursue the men. Men become lazy, or emasculated because of this. This is not Biblical.

I want to make something clear: As a twenty year old, single young lady, I am in no position to rebuke a much older married man. The Lord has been showing me where my place is. To be silent. But as I see the countless notes this has, I must voice through the scriptures. I pray this is not out of line, or bold of me to do so. I pray that He might use me as a vessel of love.

Let’s go through the points.

1. The first thing that caught my eye was “fake it until you make it”—how desperately dishonest. If you are not a good cook, don’t fake being one by reheating frozen goods. Practice, ask the Lord for help, ask your mother or another godly woman for help, buy recipe books, or even take a couple of culinary classes. (Attributes of a virtuous woman: Proverbs 31:14-15) Even if marriage is not what the Lord has in store for you, cooking skills never go to waste. 
   Do not cook him goodies. Trust me with this, as I have been a girl who did this once before to a young man. He appreciates the sentiment, and may even ask you for more, but it will definitely scare him away. It will be God who draws you together. Not anything that you can do. It will be the Holy Spirit indwelling in both of you. Nothing more.
2. The second thing is mystery. And what Glen said was essentially right. Men love mystery. They love dignity, and a girl untainted. It gives them motivation to pursue, and fight. But what is not correct behaviour is, “that look like you know something he doesn’t.” The truth be told, you are not to cause a brother to stumble into lust (Romans 14:21, Matthew 5:28). And you can wear all the longest, feminine skirts in the world, but if you’re still a flirt, and a tease, you just might be causing him to fall into a world of complete lust by your “innocent seduction”. It’s not about being sexy. This is not Christlike. Not Biblical. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ to ensure mystique that is not based upon selfish motives.
3. Yes. Be feminine. Be hopelessly girly. But do not wear your heart on your sleeve. The heart is deceitful in all its ways (Jeremiah 17:9). Guard it well because of this (Proverbs 4:23). Protect it, keep it away from anyone who does not radiate Jesus. Months ago, I wrote in my journal, “Have standards, or you’ll fall for anyone”. Whilst playing hard to get is unbiblical, and manipulation, standards are not. I’m not saying silly things like, “He must be a coffee drinker.” I’m meaning legitimate points such as, “He must love the Lord God with all his heart, soul and might.” You attract who you are.
4. Make a man feel like a man by words, not actions. You needn’t grasp his muscly arm, and “rawr” at him. You can simply applaud chivalry. If you see him do something nice for an elderly person, or a child, compliment him. But let it be. Don’t become goggly eyed, or get a crazed look on your face. Smile, and casually move on. This is biblical. Look at Ruth how she thanks Boaz (Ruth 2:8-10). If you feel out of your depth, then start practicing on your brothers. That’s right. Brothers. For this young man is also a brother in Christ. Nothing more. 
5. Be Christlike. Don’t settle for your natural side. I have seen what I am outside of Him, and I am a selfish, pursuer of men, and it gets me no where. Do not settle for self (John 3:30). Actively pursue the Lord.
6. Do. Not. Pursue. Just don’t. If you want to call him, don’t. If you have urges to text him, don’t. Let him step up to be the pursuer the Lord made him to be. Yes. We aren’t stuck in the 1950’s anymore, and women aren’t given blenders for Christmas. But a relationship is a beautiful picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church. Jesus is the pursuer, not us. Jesus is the initiator, not us. 
   I love what Elisabeth Elliot says on this matter. “‘But what if I want to call him, just so I can get his prayer requests?’ She still does not understand. Men are the initiators.” (paraphrased). You can begin to pray for him without bombarding him with phone calls or texts or Facebook messages. Start praying that the Lord would raise him up into the man He wants him to be. Start praying that he will be guided closer to Jesus.  
7. Smile. Because the joy of the Lord passes all understanding. 

Above all else, wait upon the Lord. Yes, take heart, and wait upon the Lord. Relationships need prayer in great urgency. I want to make this clear: God will be the one to draw a relationship together. Not anything you can do. If you try to rush things, instead of praying and seeking Him upon this, you will either damage the friendship and makes things impossibly awkward, or you will start a relationship on the sinking sand, not the Solid Rock (Luke 6:47-49).

The truth is, feelings are so fickle. Trying to change his will get you no where. Those who invest in feelings become as constant as the sea. Plant yourself in the Word, and start praying. 

I know I’m going to sound like a serious 19th century spinster with a flock of cats, and a monobrow who knows no fun. But seriously, I’d rather speak the Truth boldly, and be mocked, than feed someone a lie and be applauded. I suggest grabbing yourself a copy of Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot. She too was in love with a man who was called to be a South American missionary. And you know what she did? Reread this post again. 

And now, here’s some inspiring scriptures to keep you going:

The whole of Psalm 37.

“So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” - Matthew 5:34

“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he finishes the matter today.” - Ruth 3:18

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