On Being Third

Every Christian knows that their desires can’t come first in their life. God has to be our first thought.

However, something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is the fact that, even as we can’t be first, we can’t be second, either.

We have to come third.

Now, I know people talk a lot nowadays about how you have to ‘take care of yourself.’ They almost treat altruism as a character fault.

I don’t believe everyone should be giving all their food to the needy so that they starve in the process, etc., but you do need to make sure other people come before you as much as humanly possible.

As Christians, we are supposed to be unselfish and loving to other people.

Now, you could definitely say that, since God directly told us to love one another, loving God and loving other people is kind of the same thing. That’s probably true. However, sometimes pleasing other people is directly opposed to God.

For instance, perhaps your friend wants you to rob a convenience store so he can have his MilkWay bars for free. Now, obviously God has got to come first in this situation. You can’t place people before God.

However, placing yourself before other people? We all know that’s wrong.

So … be third.

First God.

Then everyone else.

Then you.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of summer!

~Kellyn Roth~

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Shared Post From BecomingEmma.Com

Hey Y’all!  I came across this beautiful post this morning and thought it may be an encouragement to several of you(especially our older readers;)).  I’m sure it will bless you!

An excerpt from my personal journal entry in April 2015: “This has just been a tough week. I have just felt really empty, lonely, and lost… It may be hard right now, but I’m thankful for broken weeks like this because it creates a void that I have to come to God to fill.” Lonely. I…

via Waiting and Dating: Why God Matters — Becoming Emma

Are You Overly Obsessing?

The definition of obsessing according to Google is this:

[To] Preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually, intrusively, and to a troubling extent:

Obsession in relationships is so common these days.  Even to the point of people being overly obsessive.  Most think obsession is fairly innocent and a common occurrence that goes hand-in-hand with infatuation.  But is it actually as innocent as it seems?  Well, over time obsession can grow to an extent that is far from healthy.

One reason is that it can effect your friendships.  I read this on Project Inspired  once, but I shrugged it off.  However, over time, I’ve found it to be true.  Gushing about guys around your gals is probably something that we’ve all done at some time or another, but those “little gushes” can turn into feelings of distance, annoyance, and even jealousy.  Anyone who has gone down that road will tell you to avoid it.  The best way?  There is a time for talking about boys, but also make sure that you are as enthusiastic and interested in their hobbies, dreams, lives, and most importantly, their relationships with our Heavenly Father.  We should be so obsessed with God that no other relationship can compare to ours’ with Him.

Secondly, it can effect THE relationship.  Some guys prefer the flirty girls, but a good Christian guy doesn’t want a girl who is batting her eyes at every “blessed” male out there.  A good Christian guy is going to be looking for a girl who is so lost head-over-heels in love with God that he has to deepen his relationship with Him before she’ll even give him a second look.  Also, I think we owe it not only to our future husbands, but to God, to be this way.  Think of it like this…

You’re dad made you a gift that was beyond all of your wildest dreams.  He told you that he had made it, but that it  wasn’t the right time to give it to you.  You were ok with that for awhile…but you soon grew tired of the waiting game.  You started looking online and in stores for that perfect “something”, and you started obsessing over them.  Time and time again your dad saw this.  It hurt him because you were not satisfied enough with his promise to wait for something that he had made perfectly and only for you.  You may not have bought those “somethings”, but you were still being impatient and maybe even selfish because you didn’t want to wait.

That gift is your future husband.  Those “somethings” are all the other guys out there.  Check the inventory every little while, but don’t even wish for someone you know the Lord would not have “him” to be.  Save your affection and obsessions for the One.

Lastly, it can effect your reputation.  What are your thoughts to girls who are overly obsessive or flirty?  What is their reputation?  Do they show love for God, or do they seem rather distant?  Don’t be the girl with this reputation.  Be the girl who God’s love radiates from; be a girl after God’s own heart.  Be the girl who every guy can look at and see a virtuous woman in the making.  Be the girl who is not looking for Prince Charming but instead exclaims with confidence, “My Prince Charming has already come!”.  Set your focus and base your life’s decisions on God, and you will be 100% satisfied.  Guaranteed!

 

Your Best Friends

Friends are one of the greatest blessings that God gives us, but will they really be our best friends forever?  Unfortunately, not always.  As time goes on, we change, we start setting goals, go off to college, start a career, get married, have a family, ect.  And sometimes we, or our friends, drift away, and well, that’s that.  However, there are some people in our lives that, even though we may not necessarily recognize them as our BFFs, are the friends that will always be there for us; no matter what…

Your Mom

Over the last year, I have found my relationship with my Mom changing.  Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe I just never noticed it before; but it’s pretty awesome.  A few months ago, I told my Mom all about my crush.  Yep.  You guys probably think I’m pretty crazy, huh? 😀  Well, to be honest, I was SCARED TO DEATH(which is fairly common, I would think ;D)!  I knew that she wouldn’t tease me, but I DID NOT expect her to react the way she did.  She told me “I feel like a giddy girl again!”, and at that moment she seemed more like one of my besties than a mom! 😀  The point here is, I think so often we think that our parents have forgotten what it feels like to be a teen; but surprise!  They DO understand, and they have SO much wisdom to pass on to us!  Knowing that my Mom understood me helped me feel as if the bridge of our mother/daughter relationship had been made stronger.  I know that whatever happens, my Mom will ALWAYS be here to listen to me, give me advice, and love me for just, well, being me.  And your’s will, too. 🙂

Your Dad

My Dad is one of those people who can be quiet and serious one minute, and then dancing to a Toby Mac song the next! 😀 He loves to make me smile and laugh.  But also over the last year, I’ve realized something; my Dad has so much confidence in me.  Whenever I doubt if I can do something, my Dad will tell me that I can.  He listens to me when I play the piano, watches me and my siblings play sports, and is interested in what I’m reading or writing, or even what I’m looking at.  My parents are definitely my biggest fans, and they believe that if it’s the Lord’s will for me, I can do anything that I set my mind to.  So when you want to know that you’re beautiful, want a bear hug, want to goof off, or want a confidence boost; run to Daddy(even when you’re 30 :P)!  He’ll ALWAYS be there to encourage and protect you. 🙂

Your Sibling(s)

SIBLINGS?!?!!?!!  THOSE LITTLE BALLS OF TROUBLE!?!?!  OR THOSE DEMANDING “FIRST BORNS”!?!?!!  SERIOUSLY!?!?!!  Seriously.  I know sometimes it can be REALLY hard to be a big or little sister, or maybe you’re both.  But despite the fact that they may not always understand the meaning of “personal space”, they’ve always been there for you.  When you’re bored, they’re the ones that bring out the baseballs.  When you’re lonely, they drive it out of you by pestering non stop for the next hour.  When you want to get in a little trouble, they’re the ones you play ruff with.  And when you want to make some noise, they’re the ones that bring out the instruments, start the singing, or dance around the room.  You’re most competitive when they’re around, and it sometimes gets a little out of hand.  But hey, they’re your siblings, and while you don’t always “like” them, you’ll always love em’; and they’ll ALWAYS love you!!  🙂

God

And lastly, but most importantly, God.  He’ll never leave you or forsake you.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  He has a plan for you.  He DIED FOR YOU.  When you see wounded, He sees mended.  When you see flaws, He sees perfection.  You can know that, because of Him, life has such a meaningful purpose.  He’ll never lift His hedge of protection from around you.  You can know that you’re never alone.  You can know that when you need someone to talk to, He’s always there with a listening ear.  You can know that whatever you do, He will always love you with an unending love.  He’ll never give you more than you can take.  You are worth more than gold.  You can know that all things work together for good, to them that love Him.  And SO many more things that it would take me most of eternity to write them all here.

God is, and ALWAYS will be your BEST FRIEND, and He loves you SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, MUCH!! 😀 😀 😀  Never forget that!

1 John 3:1

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

King James Version (KJV)

Good night, all!