a gentle & quiet spirit

Feb 26

Three Tables

I sat beside my love in a wooden pew and watched our two friends say their vows this weekend. The pastor who married them spoke about the dynamic of marriage through an analogy of three tables.

The first is the dining table—surrounded by more that two chairs; requiring more than the presence of a bride and groom. The significance is that a marriage requires community. Periodically, guests should occupy these extra chairs, engaging in conversation, but ultimately, engaging in each other’s lives. Marriage is not intended to isolate a couple. Marriage should teach us how to press deeper into community through serving others and seeking wise counsel through intentionally welcoming the company of others.

The second table is the common table, or the breakfast table. This is where life takes place. It is essentially where everything happens, though it may seem like nothing is happening. It is where you sit across each other for coffee in the morning, and dinner in the evening. It’s where you’ll laugh over your first culinary catastrophe; where the small-talk and serious talks takes place; where messes are made and messes are cleaned. It’s where the mundane becomes a collection of moments that add up to the life you make together.

The third table is the most important dynamic within a marriage. It’s the table of the Lord’s supper where you both take communion. It is here where you both are humbled and needy—undeserving, but ever-desperate for the daily mercies to partake in the grace of the Lord that frees you both from the selfishness that threatens a marriage’s joy. It is here that you are both reconciled to God through Jesus and thus reconciled to each other—renewed by his faithfulness and reminded of your individual identities that are secure in his truth. This table is where you remember that as Christ was taken, broken, and given for both of you, so you should each be emptied for one another.

My love for the imagery of tables deepens, widens, and intensifies.

Jan 11

(via setapartheart)

Nov 27

“An intelligent, discreet, and pious young woman is worth more than all the money in the world. Tell her that you love her more than your own life, because this present life is nothing, and that your only hope is that the two of you pass through this life in such a way that, in the world to come, you will be united in perfect love” St. John Chrysostom (via saintandrewdixon)

(via desertmanian)

Nov 13

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. [Proverbs 31:10, KJV]

(via set-apartgirl)

Nov 12

markmuldez:

Hello Anon!

Thanks for this question and I’ll be more than happy to answer this. Well Let’s see.. in my own opinion there are few things that makes a woman so attractive to me. Obviously she’s gotta be a Godly Woman. NOT just a regular christian girl, but a Godly Woman. There’s a big difference to that. So what does that mean? What exactly does that look like?

A Godly Woman is someone who is:

Completely sold out to God. - Meaning she’s fully surrendered to Him and she’s not worried about her future because she’s firmly rooted in Him. She has a Kingdom mindset. She cares about the things of God rather than the things of this world.

Confident in Christ - She’s confident in who she is in Christ. She’s doesn’t dwell on her past or dwell on her insecurities and flaws but she knows that she’s fearfully and wonderfully made by God and she’s looking forward to what He is making her to be.

Intimately, deeply and passionately in love with Christ - She’s content with Christ Himself. She doesn’t feel the need to be with any man to feel complete or satisfied. She’s so in love of her Savior that any man that comes along should reflect the very character of Christ.

Passionate about prayer, worship and people - She’s finds joy in praying for people. She understands that worship is about a daily act of surrender and sacrifice to God and during musical worship, she’s not afraid to raise her hands or get on her knees before the Lord. She’s all about serving the people and loving the community around her.

An over all Proverbs 31 Woman and a Christ-like character - She’s someone who is gentle with her words and ready to speak encouragement to anyone. She simply exudes the very character of Christ and strives to be like Him everyday by abiding in Him and applying His word in her life.

Maybe to some guys this isn’t their ‘standard’ or list but for me this is what makes a girl very attractive. And this is what I desire for my future wife. Why? well I want my future wife to teach our future kids the way of Christ and not the way of the world and in order to do that, I need to marry someone who is equally yoked with me. Why settle for less if God can give you the best? If you’re a godly woman, you’re gonna attract a godly man. It’s simple as that :)

Last but not the list, I’m proud to say that the girl I’m dating right now has all the characters I’ve mentioned above. Sure she’s not perfect and she’s gonna fall short but she’s not like other girls who settle for complacency or passivity with their faith, but instead I see her striving to be like Christ and to me that’s more than enough! :)

I hope this answers your question. If you like my answer, re-blog it so other ladies would be challenged and encouraged! :)

Mark Muldez

(via setapartheart)

Nov 7

“The mystery of the feminine heart was meant to be a good thing, by the way. A source of joy. Yet it has become a source of shame - women almost universally feel that they are “too much” and “not enough”. At the same time (which is crazy-making). And men tend to pull away from the deeper waters of a woman’s soul, unsure of what they will find there or how to handle it. And so we have missed the treasure that is the heart of a woman, missed the richness femininity was meant to bring to our lives, missed the way it speaks to us of the heart of God.” John Elderedge (via myoutpouring)

(via hopefisch)

“No amount of physical beauty will ever be as valuable as a beautiful heart.” Saad Tasleem (via imaan-daar)

(via strength-dignity)

Nov 6

(via breanna-lynn)

Nov 5

“I know what I must do - the principle to which I always turn is this: I was bought at a price. I do not belong to myself. I don’t have to listen to my emotional cries, my offended ego. I cannot do anything to keep my ego from bleeding, but I can ignore it and follow Christ.” Elisabeth Elliot (via walkingstories)

(via setapartheart)

Nov 2

(via falling-at-your-feet)