God has a way of working. His work is many times done through the breaking of his children’s will as He has done to mine repeatedly. I have been been giving serious thought to the idea of predestination since 1) it is in the name of my website, 2) it is in Scripture, and 3) because I am using the title of my website out of a passage of Scripture. There is a thread of teaching throughout Scripture that God has called us to become like Him.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

So then, what is the purpose of this predestination? What is the purpose of His working in our lives through trials and tribulations? That we might become like Him. Life is changing – as I mentioned in my last post. I am now dating once again. It is a very weird feeling. I have dated before, yet not in the way that I am now. My past relationship was not good to say the least. We were both driven by our own desires and adventure and ended up in the wrong place. In turn, we both felt much pain and hurt. God has used my past, sinful (in many ways, yet a relationship nevertheless) as it may be to help me come to the realization of my constant, daily need for the cross. I became sick of my complacency and life of abomination that I became humbled by His great mercy and forgiveness. Because of His working, the natural fruit flowed. There was joy, delight, love, faithfulness, goodness, and endurance through life. None of it was because of me by any means. My natural tendency was to share the truths of God’s wonderful Word to those around and discuss His goodness. It just so happened that He placed a wonderful young lady at my job. Our friendship did not start off with love at first site. lol We teased each other…a lot. We ended up not liking each other. After becoming sick of our distaste for each other, we realized that we had to reconcile. So reconcile we did. Things were somewhat back to normal. We would joke and tease, but in more…considerate ways. As a job of working night shift, someone had to walk all the late workers to their cars. Pity me…huh? lol It just so happened that Hannah was one of those. We began talking and discussing things of Scripture. We soon realized that our love for truly Biblical-based life and practice was mutual. The more we talked, the more we enjoyed our time. Though she was a bit attached to me from the beginning, it took me a while. (Guys tend to be a little slower sometimes. I’m sure Han’ would tell you the same. lol) Through discussing His Word and encouraging one another, our friendship deepened in a pure and exciting relationship. It was not til this last week, that we took the plunge into the depths of dating. I am now dating the gorgeous Hannah R.G. (we just call her RG – lol). It is awkward at times for she has never dated. It is weird for me because I have dated but never with the view of Christ and His work in me…and someone else together. It is yet still wonderful for God has even blessed us in our friendship in that we still enjoy life together but we still are seeking Christ preeminence in all things. We fails sometimes, but we are learning and going on. Her service and devotion to God is incredible. It is a rebuke and great example to me. She has also mentioned that I am an incredible blessing to her as well as we hash through things of Scripture and disciple and live the gospel in our lives. God really has done wonderful things and continues to do them as well.

I do not write all this to necessarily brag (although the blessings from God are incredible). It is more of an understanding that God blesses those who pursue Him. It is scary at times to know the responsibility of pursuing the possibility of marriage. It is frightening at times too to know the power of sin. On the other hand, it’s joyful to pursue a life of worshiping and serving God with someone who desires the exact same thing. I praise God for Han’. God has used her in many ways already. God has also used me in her life as well. We praise God for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things…even relationships. We hope that He will be glorified in us by our satisfaction in Him. So, no, I can’t say this to brag because God has done it. I say it to rejoice. I say it to let others (friends, family, random visitors to my website) so that you know that God does bless – that there is such thing as Christ-centered “dating.” I also say it for your prayers – the prayers and support of the saints. This is strange territory for us. We hope that you will be encouraged as God seeks to do His work in our lives. We appreciate your prayers and are excited to see what God has in the future.

May He be praised!
Josh

Life goes on…no matter how fast you want it to go…it just goes. This morning on my way home from work, all nature seemed a bit different than usual. It made me think of summer morning in Michigan on my grandparent’s farm. There was a chill that made me want to keep my fleece on till I got home. The sun seemed to be resting at a point in the sky that cast shadows off the evergreens lining the road yet enough to light the way. Birds had not awakened from their night of sleep yet; and the wind was blowing gently but enough to make you uncomfortable. It made me think of my life right now. God is always above, yet He seems to blind me from other things in life and chooses to reveal them to me ever so slowly. There is a chill from the unknown that makes me unsettled. Life is at an almost calm place right now with the anticipation of the busy months ahead. However, there is also an excitement from seeing what I can see and watching the light slowly reveal the path in front of me. All the meanwhile, all is being controlled by a Being Who shows Himself completely Sovereign and satisfied by orchestrating life in a way glorifying to Himself and satisfying and delightful to the participants. This is just the beginning of a new day.

I hope some of this makes sense. Although at times, life appears bleak; there is a joy from keeping a steadfast gaze on the Creator and Ruler of life while enjoying the splendor of all that He has done and is doing.

Glorying in the Cross,

Josh

God is so very good!