Leading to marriage (Prayer Request)

Dear believers,

I've written today...to seek prayer over a wonderful matter!

I don't know how to go about explaining how this all began...But I desire to be as open and honest as possible...

I received a message from a dear sister in the Lord, a little while ago...It was received in the month of march, in my sermonindex inbox, in regards to a thread that I had previously posted in january of this year...and I feel that I've been blessed with a really wonderful measure of grace through this fellowship...
We had no intentions of any kind. Only that we would be an encouragement to one another through the Word...But we both feel now that we are being led towards one another...and we want to go about it properly...To honor the Lord.

We've also promised not to exchange photographs of each other...For if this should truly be something that's meant to be? Then we desire to trust God in leading us in all this.

This is our request...Please pray for us in this!

James 1:4: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

the sister is me...

yes, please pray over us...what a beautiful thing this is; God has shown such kindness to us in this.

God has been so gracious; josh is a great leader! and a great brother in Christ! i have been blessed by him beyond anything i could have hoped for in a godly man!

oh, please pray, we need the Lord's direction in this so!

thank you, love you,
:)
holly

What a precious testimony. Thank you for sharing it. How wonderful it would be if every marriage relationship started out this way.

I am praying for you two! :-)

thank you so much, both of you! and all who are praying over us!!! God is showing us much!

i have heard paul washer's sermons on marriage (and so has josh) but not on courtship (although he may have)..would you mind posting the one you mentioned? i think it would be lovely to hear!!

thank you everyone for praying and loving us.
:)
h

Praying for you both.

Oh the blessedness of watching the Master sculpt that which He has given to be.

thank you all for your prayers. please continue to do so. things have been strained much since i got a 2nd job. i've given notice now, but please pray God will speak to us and that we would hear HIM.

thank you so much, love you all. sorry i haven't been around, but i've been at work...

blessed be the name of the Lord.

this relationship is now "just friends". just wanted to post and say thank you all for your love and prayers. may God be glorified in cleaning us of idols; He is faithful.

please pray for me and for josh. it's painful for both of us.

God has been kind to allow me to be part of a wonderful prayer group here, and i covet your prayers that God would send the same for josh.

thank you.

love you all very much.

One has to wonder about the pain. There must be a bonding that takes place even before a marriage - where the two begin to become one. This must also apply to friendships to some extent for even there we find pain if two are separated.

Holding you both in prayer.

Well, I would like to possibly give some edifying advice.

You said that you are not going to show each other your pictures.

I have some issues with that.

Though not completely.

I mean if you really don't care if you are attracted to the person then so be it. Or if you are sure the Holy Spirit has done this.

Still. I am not sure there is reason for this. Unless again the Holy Spirit told you to do that specifically as well.

There is nothing wrong with seeing if you are attracted to someone. One reason to marry a person is that you are attracted to them. Of course it is not everything and to some nothing depending. I don't know if I would marry if I were not attracted to the person for I would probably take the advice of Paul and not marry if I did not care if someone were attractive. Though at the same time moderate attractiveness or even lil if called to it is also a thing that is in Christian marriages sometimes as we are not to have our best life now.

I will say this. One of the most dangerous things is subjectiveness in light of courtship. Not that we cannot receive subjective words from God. It is just a very hard issue because our natural inclinations are so that they can often delude us. Well often allow any small seeming providence make us to think it is God's call. I have seen it a million times.

thank you both. love you.

proverbs 20:25: "it is a trap for a man to say rashly, 'it is holy!' and after the vows to make inquiry." you are so right about "subjective" things..oh, boy...

as for attractiveness being a factor in deciding who to marry...i have to say (with all due respect, of course) i disagree. shall i not serve a man just because he serves God? that's my heart, which is a gift of God to desire this without the limits of attraction...was that not why woman was created? i'm grateful that God has given me freedom from caring about looks in a man. i used to find it crucial, before God freed me of it. He is very kind! also, i see nothing in the Scripture indicating that should be a deciding factor, whereas i see plenty saying it should not. marriage is holy and passionate. it is a beautiful mystery! :) it is a tremendous responsibility. o, let us look upon it as God's decision, not our own. just another part of the beautiful sabbath life. let us be given at His choosing, not our own, as in all things in this life and in heaven. what wonderful unions they would be if we let Him be the Orchestrator!! i shall hold to this dream...i believe only God could make a fleshly, sinful human dream such a thing. praise Him for His freeing love.