Almost from the moment Ryan met Cassi, he wanted to marry her. He was in Pharmacy school and only had two more years to go. After beginning his third year and following a pharmacist around, he decided he didn't want to be a pharmacist. He wanted to change careers and go to dental school, Lord willing. {He had become good friends with Steven and liked his career path much better.}
If he is to become a dentist, he has four years of schooling ahead of him, but he wanted to marry Cassi! He worked hard to pass the dental exam to get into dental school. He passed with flying colors. They got married. However, it was late to apply for dental school by this time but he did it anyways. He got accepted into three. One is in California that is over four times the cost of two in Texas and it is much cheaper to live in Texas. They chose Texas.
Cassi worked full-time for awhile so she got a good job. It exhausted her. She came home every night and didn't have the energy to fix meals for her new husband or the strength to do much more than come home and rest. They decide together that she must work only part-time since full-time is too much on her. Her greatest desire is to take good care of her husband. Her employer, who has never allowed his employees to work part-time, offered her a part-time position! He values her work in his office.
Ryan applied for an interest free loan that would cover half of all of his tuition. He got it. A family from their church offered them a large room in their home with a king-sized bed, their own bathroom, and told them they have free access to their kitchen and to make themselves at home. They told them that if there was anything they do that bothers them to tell them. They got to live there for free until an apartment at the school was available. They moved into their VERY affordable apartment last week.
God ordained marriage. He values marriage WAY above an education. He values children. He wants us getting married and having children and then He promises to provide for us. He is abundantly providing for Ryan and Cassi WAY beyond what they could have ever imagined. He loves Ryan and Cassi. They love Him. He is taking good care of them.
Stop being like the world around you and valuing education above marriage and children. God works mightily through marriage and children to spread the Gospel. He tells us to be fruitful and multiply. His ways are good. What He commands, He provides. Trust Him!
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20,21
Wendy Young · 551 weeks ago
Cynthia Swenson · 551 weeks ago
Maria · 551 weeks ago
I love the story of that young couple. Education is great - but always to be realized that staying home with the children is first.
Lady Virtue · 551 weeks ago
God loves and values people above things; we should do the same. I loved the statement about Him valuing marriage and children above education.
And...congratulations to the beautiful couple! :)
herecomestheLIGHT · 551 weeks ago
Now, I will proceed to add my two cents:
This is going to come as a shock to most, I'm sure, but if you love the Lord, you should Fear the Lord and learn about the Lord by reading your Bible. The Bible, to my recollection, does not discuss how believers should go to college. In fact, the times it mentions a secular education it doesn't really speak very highly of it (remember King Solomon and his wise counsel to all of us?). There is knowledge and then there is wisdom. Trying to become wise is like pouring the ocean into a glass. You'll never be the wisest and you'll never know everything there is to no about anything.
The smartest people I know NEVER went to college. That includes secular idols that are put up on a pedestal.
The smartest people I know are people who have read their Bibles and have become hard workers through wisdom they have acquired over vast periods of time in their daily lives. They are far greater and far wiser than anyone I have ever met that went to a college to get a degree. I have come to the conclusion that college for the most part makes a person stupider (not wiser). Now, don't get me wrong, I know some wise people that went to college, but I would say that most of them had to do a lot of deprogramming before they realized their full potential.
You want to be smart?
Learn to read your Bible.
Learn the ways of our Lord.
Leave the world to its own. Let the worldly chase worldly ideals and possessions.
If you do pursue a secular education, do it with a Godly perspective and understand that your identity is NOT in the college degree that you get, but in the Lord.
Seek wise counsel -- single friends attending college with you are NOT wise counsel!!
elspethbreathinggrace 46p · 551 weeks ago
That said, I wonder that there seems to be some kind of mindset that getting an education beyond high school is tantamount to "valuing education over marriage". I just don't get it. We have raised our girls to be wives and mothers. They know what God expects of them when they marry. And still, in the meanwhile, they are attending college.
One will earn her BA while she's still 20. The other two right after they turn 21. And every one of them with NO loans at all, which we have accomplished through much strategy without my going to work. Yet that seems to be the general consensus among more right leaning Christians. That any girl who goes to college is on the feminist track.
Truth be told, I'm hoping they find a husband while attending college (while living at home I might add), as our church isn't exactly running over with marriageable young men. Story for another day.
-elspeth
Desiree · 551 weeks ago
Ruth · 551 weeks ago
shell · 551 weeks ago
Tiffany · 551 weeks ago
Kelley · 551 weeks ago
We both gave birth to two kids, and she had paid me the highest compliment that day all those years ago. My husband had no student loans and we have lived like royalty in rental homes nearly our entire marriage-- on foreign fields for half of it. God has a beautiful way of putting your ducks in the order He deems best, and it's with joy that I say, "I sure do love Him for that!"
Happy highway,
Kelley~
Fran · 551 weeks ago
Liza · 551 weeks ago
Tracie · 551 weeks ago
Allie · 551 weeks ago
I'm a young lady (25) in my final year of dental school (debt free, thank God!) - and so far I've been quite "unlucky in love". I desire to get married and be a wife and mother but God has closed doors to relationships that were unfruitful - and looking back now, I'm so grateful to Him for that! I know without a doubt that my fulfillment in life isn't going to be found in dentistry...however I haven't met my husband YET (or maybe I have but I don't know it yet) so I'm praying and believing!!! God's hand has been evident in my life in uncountable ways so despite my singleness I am full of joy knowing that he is in control and that he has a plan. It's so easy to be envious of others but I refuse to let the enemy take over my heart. Your blog has made such an impact on my life Lori - you give very wise counsel and I'm grateful for you!!
All the best!
Anonymous · 551 weeks ago
randomlyrachels 64p · 550 weeks ago
Lukas · 449 weeks ago