Love Languages...

The Five Love Languages

My primary love language is probably
Physical Touch
with a secondary love language being
Words of Affirmation.

Complete set of results

Physical Touch:		11
Words of Affirmation:		9
Acts of Service:		4
Quality Time:		4
Receiving Gifts:		2

Information

Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.

Take the quiz

Fringes

FRINGES by Shane Barnard
He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing And how faint a word we even hear of Him And yet – our eyes and ears and minds get all the candy

I sing for grace For grace it lets me sing And all I’ve ever seen or heard Or haven’t seen or heard It’s His There is no other

All of this is but the fringes

And these are but the fringes And all the world hinges On His grace and on His word It speaks things into being And the spoken things revealing The glory of our God and King

I’m stumbling upon things that aren’t mine Things he spoke to life before time Name one thing that’s not One law or thought He taught the clay Molded it Behold, He called the sheep That’s why they came Sheep! Who by grace get a peep And make it cheap by calling it mine

"Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?" (Job 26:14)


How much of our lives to we really get? Do we really see and live in God's perspective of us? Or do we just live in the Fringes of what God wants and has for us? I know I'm scared to fully embrace what God has for me. It's scary because it's the unknown. Moving to a new continent is a struggle, but so is talking to that random person about my relationship with Jesus. But it's not just in sharing Jesus that we fail to understand the fullness of His plans and desires for us. He has a plan for you and I. A detailed and formulated plan that was devised before the foundations of this planet were laid. A plan to "prosper us." I challenge you (and myself) to quit living on the Fringes of what God has foe our lives. Dive in. "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"

Obviously God is working on me right now. I have many things that are burdening me, but I'm trying to take hold of the promises that I've been given. promises that tell me that if I have faith God will bless that faith. I have another job I may take here at JSU. It's an intern position for the semester. The campus minister here at JSU is taking a leave of absence, and I'll be filling in for him. Please pray for me as I take this position. More importantly, pray for him and his family. They need your prayers desperately. Good start to the week. Let's see how this one's gonna go...

Robert

All better

So I feel better now. I needed to have some things work themselves out, and they did. I still have some issues to work out, but I'm much better now. I still don't feel like I'm all the way back to being myself, but I'm well on the way. Just letting you know,

Robert

Vacation

I need one. Our ski trip was great. Other than the skiing part. It was 50 degrees both days. The "snow" was slushy and that made it hard to control what you were doing on the black diamonds. But on the good side we had over 10 decisions for Christ. John Gillis did our retreat and he was fabulous as always. Good weekend.

But then I had to come home. I'm just in a place that right now I was to run from all of my problems and be on vacation for a month straight. Wake up because that can't happen. With all of the family stuff that I've dealt with I really needed for someone to break into my apartment while I was gone. I really didn't need my couch or my table and chairs. That's what was awaiting me on my return to Jacksonville Monday afternoon. This is all a test of some sort, but why or how this is going to help me I have no idea. I just need to process all of this and get in a good place with it. My couch isn't coming back and all I can do is work on getting another one. Oh well. I liked that couch, it had a fold out bed.

I'm just running on empty emotionally. I'm sure in a couple of days I'll be better. In fact, I'm sure of it. But right now I'm lonely and I want to whine a lot. I just need some me time by myself or with trusted friends. Thanks for listening. I'll be better next time I post.

Robert

Trials and tribulations....

Two days in a row!! That's some sort of record for me here in the States. This will be a devotional post so hang on...

All of you that have happy, stable, emotionally balanced families stop right now and thank God for them. They are a blessing and shouldn't be taken for granted. I'm going through a hellish period with my parents and it's draining and it's honestly a huge burden. But as I was doing my devotion this morning God stopped me in my tracks with the subject matter. My devotional book is Max Lucado's, "Grace For the Moment" This is what it reads:

"Made For Heaven"

My kingdom does not belong to this world.-John 18:36

Unhappiness on Earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy, then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for Earth. To be content in a strange land...

He goes on to quote 1 Peter 2:11; we are "like foreigners and strangers in this world" That's what God does sometimes. He has to remind us of what heaven is like by letting the ugliness of the world interact with our hearts. This isn't a pretty thing most of the time and we certainly don't like it. But I have to remember, not everything that I dislike is bad for me. God is trying to "hold my attention" in this and I am trying to hear him. So just remember next time a "crisis" comes that God is trying to get your attention. Remember that growth is painful. Seek his purpose in the strife and let His peace rule your heart. Don't forget, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son..." Romans 8:28-29a NLT

Robert

A new year means new beginnings

Hello all!
A new year has brought about new beginnings in my life. We have a new Senior Pastor at FBC Jacksonville. His name is Dr. Derek Staples. He's different than that last pastor, so it's going to take some time to get used to him. All in all I'm really excited.

I had my first interview with ICY. It was a phone interview and it went really well. We seem to have the same heart about ministry and administration, so I'm really excited about that! If everything works out I'll be moving to the UK some time in September. WOOHOO!!!

Christmas and New Years were a blur. A lot of driving and sitting, just like usual. Got some clothes and money, a good adult Christmas.

It's good to read other blogs and see how my friends are doing. Stella, you need to blog more. Josh Boston-GET A BLOG (or if you have one let me know) Karen-I thoroughly enjoy your blog. Thanks for the look inside your life.

Till next time,

Robert