He Has Done Great Things For us

Hi y’all,

I have missed writing to y’all over the past few weeks.  I’ve been really busy with school work, but now that I’ve finished everything for that summer class I should have more time to read blogs and write blogs.

As so happens after a season of rest from blogging, I do have lots I want to say.  I had a blog post half finished that I want to finish and publish, something that may push the buttons of some.  I’m looking forward to getting back into a roll with the blogging

Aside from work and school, I have been trying to spend more time with my girlfriend and depending on the week, I may be more successful than other days.  All things considered, I am very thankful for the work of God in our lives, how has brought us together and kept us together through faith in Christ, that we might be an encouragement to each other and a witness to the world for God. It has all been a gift of grace, something we do not deserve, something that is a miracle of God!  He has done great things, and we are only enjoying the benefits!

I will confess and admit that the big “M” word has been on my mind, something that I am constantly evaluating myself about, preparing my heart (and wallet) for, and submitting to the Lord about.  I grew up in the suburbs of Toronto and in a middle/upper-class Chinese church, and so my mindset about what is “normal” in terms of speed and how quickly relationships develop and move onto the next levels is much slower than what seems to be more normal to American Christians.

I do not think it is necessarily a Southern Baptist thing, as my sister sometimes criticizes, but I do admire the humility of many Christians (friends) who submit themselves to the Word of God in relationships by getting married sooner, rather than later (and later… and later).  In one sense, it is certainly better to be married younger / earlier than to suffer the pain and guilt of sexual sin, fornication, or a baby out of wedlock. I do not see any statistics about the success of marriages and age of marriage; the divorce rates are the same for Christians as non-believers.  While I genuinely believe that God’s grace abounds greater than sin will ever, I know that God does fill and empower us with the Holy Spirit to obey His Word and submit to His will for our lives.

In the past month or so, I found out about 3 couples I know who have gotten engaged.  I’m so happy for them :-)  None of them have known each other for more than a year, and some have only been seeing each other for 5 months at most.  So despite all the speediness of how quickly people around us do things, we are working hard to take things slowly but surely, going at a pace in which we both feel comfortable, preparing and planning, praying and petitioning the Lord about this and many other insecurities… getting to know each other as friends, as brother and sisters in Christ, and as boyfriend and girlfriend.  I know I have a long way to go in terms of becoming the kind of man that I want to be, for the Lord is still working in me to develop my manhood.  But thanks be to God, we have so many friends from church who are cheering and praying for us, keeping us accountable to physical and emotional purity; it is such a blessing to have such a wonderful Christian community to share our joys and struggles with.

On that note, I have been convicted at how unfair and sinful it is for young men who have been seeing a girl for 2+years and not ask their hand in marriage.  Leading them on in an extended relationship with no convenantal commitment is simply un-Christlike in manner, outright unfair, hurtful, and a disservice to that girl.  I do not wish this for any sister in Christ who has experienced this, and pray that the hand of God would work in all relationships, even in spite of the circumstances of life we find ourselves in.  I still find myself to be very Northern and slow in my opinion of these things, and pray that the Lord would convict me of sin in these matters as well.

On that note, it’s time for my prayer time and for bed.  Grace to y’all, and talk to you soon.