Many years ago I narrowed down what I am looking for in a partner to this: she loves to experience an evening at the Sydney Opera House, going to a performance and then a fine dinner together – all dressed up, sexy and flirtatious!
BUT that’s the icing on the cake – it’s not the cake itself.
The cake itself is the meat and substance of our lives together – and that is serving God by helping the helpless. That may mean living in a slum or having vomit on our clothes as we hold an ill child.
My dream partner knows that it’s just a romantic to be holding hands as we walk to our table at the Opera House, as it is to be walking hand in hand in the poorest of the poor parts of the world, surrounded by filth and muck.
We’re together because we love the inside of each other, not what is on the outside. Having said that, I am a guy and so it kinda does matter. hehehe. But wherever we are, there is love. We know the highlight of the day is not money or TV, it’s our love and our family – and we protect and cherish that.
We’re excited about our lives because God is manifestly with us as we do His work and He works through us.
Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you] – Luke 17:21
I am so looking forward to it. If you are inclined to pray, please pray for her and her family.
Filed under: Me, myself, I
Mark, May God lead you to the right person.
Stan
Thanks Stan!! – Mark
Hi Mark-
As a single adult, I know how you feel. I want to be with someone who knows that marriage and ministry is not about what they can get but about what they can give. To the Lord and the cause of Christ. Not just being a Sunday church goer but to live a lifestyle of worship. I will not settle for less that God’s best for me and it sounds like you won’t either. Wait upon the Lord. He is crafting your mate (as well as mine!) and preparing you to be able to love her as Christ loved the Church.
Be blessed. I enjoy reading your blog.
Rachel
I Rachel. You wrote “I won’t settle for less than God’s best”. I am concerned that many women seem to want perfection in their man. Rich. Successful. Etc. So who is going to marry the men who aren’t those things? And the same goes for men who want various specific things… who will marry the woman who has had a rough life?
I once read a post that said, partners who marry and then heal and grow TOGETHER are the ones people now look at and idealize. But those relationships were made when these two were LESS than at their best. The ideal is false. The people grew and recovered BECAUSE of their love for one another.
I can feel that you’re NOT that shallow. You indeed want the ONE that God chooses for you (and not the one chosen indirectly by the norms of society). I wanted to take this opportunity to speak out yet again on this issue of having a list of “I want” for God to fulfill. I don’t subscribe to that.
So – like you – I plan to stay loose and let Him confirm what He wants, rather than impose my requirements. God bless you – Mark.
Hi Mark-
I think you misunderstood me! I don’t have a “shopping list” and am certainly not looking for the “perfect” man cause Lord knows he would dump me! What I meant is that I know so many women who are so afraid to be alone that they settle. They would rather be with the wrong person than no one at all. I am happy as a single woman but would like to be married once day. The main expectation I have is that he be a very commited Christian. There are lots of Christians out there but I don’t want to just be with a Christian. I want to marry someone who has a heart for God and a passion to seek His calling and serve Christ side by side with me.
That’s what I meant
Blessings-
Rachel
Hi Rachel. Yes I know. In my reply I said, I can feel this is not your approach. I was just taking the opportunity to speak out against this approach. Not referring to you. God bless you, Mark.
I like the discussion. I am a divorced woman who raised two children by myself. All along I had prayed for a yolk mate, and God choose not to bring anyone along who appealed to me. The offers I got , were easy to pass up – none were right for me. Now, I have NO idea what God is up to, and is not that the fun of romance= and the mystery of Christ- that we can not predict what He is doing and He moves like the wind- You never know how and when and who He will bring your way. It is so frustrating to say the least, to long for a partner and NOT be able to do anything to make that happen, but TRUST God, It is the simplest, but toughest trials as a human being to deal with- since we all have unmet needs of all kinds to westle with every day, sometimes to pray through every hour.
God is nothing , if not mysterious in His matchmaking Ways!
Every romance is a brand new dance, never danced before,
I said a prayer for you and your sweet lady to enjoy the rest of your lives in delicious exploration of each other, celebrating God’s creation, and giving Him thanks every day for each other!
Much Blessing,
Trish