Sisters' Saturdays- Jackie Kendal: The Worries of Girls

So the notes I took on this are from forever ago (October...whoops) but I still think they can be encouraging. I think she was addressing worries that we had shared with her, and scriptural passages to help us combat those worries. Here are the verses and quotes I wrote down. Hopefully it will challenge, encourage, and inspire you!

What to think about if you have worries about...

A. Relationships
"If you try to build intimacy with another person before you have done the hard work of becoming whole in Jesus, then all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself and it sets you up for failure" - Dr. Leslie Parrot

Side note/ My Opinion: I feel like I'm never going to reach a point in my walk with God where I feel like I am completely 100% whole in Jesus. My faith will never be perfect, it will always be growing. So how will I know when I'm ready to be in a relationship? Sometimes I'll be thinking about guys (as all girls do, let's be real now), but then I'll just cast the thought away because "I'm not ready to be in a relationship yet". But what if I am? I'm hoping that when I'm ready, God will show me 100% without a doubt that it's time. But what if God puts a guy in my life, and I don't recognize it because of my belief that I'm not ready? Sorry that was kind of a rant, but it's just what goes round my head. Feel free to comment :)

B. Unsaved People
1 Tim 2:3-4 
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God wants everyone to be saved. Does God reveal himself to all?

Matthew 10:32-38

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

C. God's Will

Psalm 32:8 (Guidance)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

D. Anxiety

Romans 8:23

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

(also see psalm 150)

E. Other People's Thoughts

Galations 1:10 

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

F. Sinning

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

My Thoughts- Mark 1: Secret Healings

I love that Jesus makes the demons be quiet and not tell the people who He is. He wants them to work out their faith, and truly believe for themselves. I also wonder if Jesus tells the man healed of leprosy not to talk about it because healing wasn't Jesus' #1 purpose of being on Earth; an access of it would've actually take away from His ministry. While healing some demonstrated God's power residing in Jesus, it would've taken forever to heal everyone and He would never be able to actually give us the good news! 

I find this similar to how it is today. We've probably all have asked God for physical healing at some time or another, yet some receive it and some don't. For those who don't, it's because God has a bigger plan in motion, just like He did when Jesus was on Earth. It's hard to accept that when we can't know why God chooses to let us endure some things, but we just have to trust in his never failing goodness.

Want to read Mark 1? Click on the following link!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=NIV

My Thoughts- Matthew 5: Annoyance and Introductions

Sometimes instead of posting my thoughts on a passage, I just like to re-write the verses that stuck out to me, followed by a prayer incorporating those verses. This is one of those times :)

Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to recognize annoyance. Help me to pray and allow you to take that feeling away when I have it. I want to shine your love onto others, help me not to be too preoccupied to do that. Eradicate the sin within me. Help me to do things for people I don't know or don't like. Help me not to be afraid of forming new relationships in order to honor and glorify you. Thank you for bringing me into your family. I love you, and in Jesus' name I pray, amen :)