Preparing to Be a Help Meet - Part 5

Transcription (unedited)

Announcer:  Elli wondered if there were any good guys out there. Her brother knew one.

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Kristen Victory:  Chapter 8, the Italian Prince. Chapter 8 prelude, In Pursuit of Happily Ever After. Moral to the story; as a single girl actively pursue an aggressive life of ministry, learning and serving. A caution; a caution drawn from the story is, be patient and wait on the Lord and Amen. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin.

The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord. That she may be holy, both in body and in spirit. But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband, First Corinthians 7:34. In this love story, you will meet a princess named Eli. Eli was active, aggressive, serving, ministering and patient. As you read her story, give attention to the time in her life when she gained the real purpose in her life. Note the scripture that guided her. This is Elli's story.

My name is Elli. It was around my 19th birthday and I was wondering if there were any good guys out there. I thought the best person to ask was my protective older brother. So while we were on the phone, I nonchalantly threw out the question, "Adam, have you met any good guys that would be good for me?"

Now this far, my brother had given this hostile stare to every potential suitor that had looked my way, approving of none. But I hoped that in all of his recent travels, he had met someone of whom he approved. Without hesitating he answered, "Yeah I've met one." "Good," I said. I didn't ask him any more about the mystery man.

I wasn't looking for him to set me up. I was just wondering if there were any good guys out there. I had already had my experience with a charmer three years earlier. I was 15 years old and my family started going to a new church in Denver. There was a handsome older boy there whom I noticed right off because the very first Sunday, he looked right into my eyes.

It was clearly a special look and I was excited to get his attention. We soon became friends. We spent time talking, playing group games and laughing together. By the end of the year I was deeply infatuated with him. Our relationship took an inevitable turn. There came an awkward moment when his mother approached me and said, "I am looking for a good wife for my son."

I was shocked. Did she know I had secretly thought about marrying him? The steady man replies, "Probably parents have very sharp eyes and usually observe more than they let on." I was confused and unsure of what to do, so I sought God. Do you know there are turning moments in a person's life? Pivotal points to decide their future?

The visionary says, read the book of Daniel. There were many pivotal moments in his life, but they didn't start that way. His first test was shortly after being taken into captivity and being given the king's meat and delicacies to eat. It was a dietary decision. Eat the fine food provided by King Nebuchadnezzar, or adhere to his people's dietary laws and abstain.

It was a small matter that he was faithful in. Years of faithfulness and increasing larger issues led to pivotal decisions. As Jesus told in the Parable of the Talents, he who is faithful over a few things, will be put in charge over many things.

If it feels God is not moving or advancing your life or spiritual walk, ask yourself, "Have I been faithful with the truth and things I have been given? Have I sown what seeds I have?" Prove to God yourself and everyone else that you have flourished with what you have.

Elli says, "God waits for you to decide which way you want to go." I am so glad that at that moment, I wanted only what God had for me. It was the truth I read in First Corinthians 7:34 that turned my heart away from her son. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and in spirit.

My life headed in a completely new direction. I laid aside the boy crush thing and threw myself into pursuing the life of knowing and serving God. When I was 16, I worked part time as a nanny. I took extracurricular art, music and speech classes. I received certification form the Institute of Florists to do floral design.

I started teaching English to immigrants in the inner city of Denver and I went from being a Sunday school teacher to becoming the Sunday school superintendent with my older brother. My brother and I also took our first cross country trip together before I turned 17. The King says, "Cross country trips may be the best times for discussing life goals and perspective with family members."

I eventually went on to start my own business. I named it Elli Designs and started doing floral arrangements for weddings and other events. I also did interior decorating, gardening, landscaping and house cleaning. When I wasn't working, I was busy doing ministry, taking courses and spending time with like‑minded friends.

One day, three or four months later after asking my brother if he knew of any good guys, the phone rang. It was a guy asking for older my brother. I told him that my brother was out of town and I politely asked if I could take a message. He told me his name and said he was moving to our area to attend Bible College.

Later that day my brother called. We talked for a little while and then I remembered the guy who called. I said, "Somebody called for you." "Who was it?" he asked. "I think he said his name was Anthony Tailor." My brother didn't say anything for a few seconds and then he asked somewhat sharply, "What did he want?" "He said he's moving here to go to Bible College."

Again my brother didn't say anything for a few seconds and then he said very seriously, "Oh no, watch out." I was startled by his reaction and I asked him, "What, what are you talking about?" To which he responded, "Oh nothing, never mind."

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Announcer:  Thank you for listening to this excerpt from Preparing to Be a Help Meet. As always, remember to check for specials on this and other audio books on our website.