strengthanddignity

[strengthanddignity]

[strengthanddignity]

[strengthanddignity]

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Until God has become your treasure, until your own sin has become the thing you hate most, until the word of God is your supreme authority that you feel to be more precious than gold, sweeter than honey, until the gospel of Christ’s death in your place is the most precious news in the world to you, until you have learned to deny yourself short-term pleasures for the sake of long-term joy and holiness, until you have grown to love the Holy Spirit and long for his fruit more than man’s praise, until you count everything as loss compared to the supreme value of knowing Christ — your attitude towards your clothing and your appearance will be controlled by forces that don’t honor Christ. And there’s the aim for both women and men. Together we desire to not be controlled by outward appearances. Instead, we make it our aim to be compelled by the invisible love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12–15). Words by John Piper

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A timely reminder.

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Wow, I love this!

To My Future Husband:

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I can never NOT reblog this. 

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ashleigh Denning (@theashleighdenning)

Pretty sure I underestimate August every year. 😳 HELP! #justkeepswimming

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Recommended Resource: The Names of God by Ken Hemphill

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Psalm 19-1-4

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[strengthanddignity]

What you need to know before you ask me to be your girlfriend

11 août 2016

1. I will always aim to see the best in you and the best version of you; I will fill in the gaps if you fall short and I will love you (to the best of my ability and with Christ’s help) unconditionally - do not take this for granted and think that you need not improve. I want to be part of God’s glorious plan to see you become the best tool for His kingdom that you can possibly be and I aim to give love as Christ loves so that you might feel freedom - never condemnation - within our relationship.

2. I am not perfect. But I pray that I am humble enough to receive “constructive encouragement”. If I fall short, or you do not feel your needs are being met, I WANT TO KNOW! I want to love you better than anyone else ever could. But I need you to be gentle with me. I will always respond better to a kind correction than an arrogant one. In everything you say, I would ask that you check whether it is to see me become the best version of myself through Christ or whether it comes from a place of selfishness… There is a fine line between constructive and destructive, and I have seen - too often - the devastation that comes from selfish, harsh words. The aftermath always leaves me questioning if the joy is worth the pain. But I think YOU are worth the pain. So talk to me, but be as gentle as you think our Saviour would be.

3. I need (yes, NEED) you to show me that you desire me. I don’t care if this means hand cut confetti and love notes at my doorstep or ensuring I never pay for a date! It can be as simple as a text message, just to let me know I’M the one you think about during your day to day happenings. I don’t need extravagance, I just need a little, a lot! In other words, I need to be shown often - I don’t want to feel like I’m being drip fed. If you don’t feel the need to SHOW me of your desire, I would question if the desire is truly there in the first place… A romantic relationship without desire is a friendship.

4. It is important to me that you are able to follow through after you’ve said you’re going to do something. Now, you’ll need to keep me accountable to this also, as I know this is an area in which I struggle, but a.) our yes should be yes and our no should be no and I should be able to stand by any word that comes out of your mouth. If you say, “I’m going to read this book”, I do not want to have been given the opportunity or have seen a past pattern which would discredit the assurance I should have in that statement. And b.) if we live by the principle that we must prove ourselves faithful in the little things… I will view the way you handle these “small promises” and I will use them as an indication of how you will honour the big promises you make… Particularly the ones you might eventually make in the sight of God, family and friends, whilst I’m standing in front of you in a white dress.

5. I will always love Jesus more than I love you. He is my goal, my desire, my purpose. But the truth is, once you have a revelation of what that means for our relationship - for Christ to be both cornerstone and pinnacle - and how I am then free to love you without hinderance and with all the respect and honour you deserve, you will never have the opportunity to feel jealous.

I look forward to loving you and being loved by you. I look forward to loving Jesus with you!!

Love, your future girlfriend, Ashleigh. X

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[strengthanddignity]

A godly man must be faithful to his wife even though he does not have one yet.

Dominic Russo (via worshipgifs)

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for @jesuslovesmeallmylife

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Hold everything with open hands. I don’t think we are ever allowed to grab hold of anything or anyone as though they matter more than the kingdom of heaven. When you hold relationships with open hands, then people come in and out of your life as gifts of grace to be cherished and enjoyed, not objects to be owned and manipulated. And then when you hold your dreams with open hands, you get to watch God resurrect what seemed dead and multiply what seemed small.

Angela Thomas, A Beautiful Offering  (via stephaniegraceofficial)