Love Stories

I’m convinced that the best love stories are the ones that take longer to happen.

First, let me say it’s hard to wait. It’s hard to go through life, single, for years and years. There are days that you know that God has a plan and there are some that you wonder if He really knows how you feel.

I’ve been there. I am there.

If I keep going back to the truth though, I can make it that day. His promises can be trusted.

I’ve been reading Ruth’s story again. It doesn’t give a lot of timelines in the story, however. How long she traveled with her mother in law, how long she gleaned with the other girls, etc. It did say she was married for 10 years before her husband died though.

Ten years!

10 years before Boaz even entered the story; this wonderful story.

Speaking of Boaz…oh, Boaz. He’s that guy we all picture, coming in (possibly on horseback or a nice car, with a million dollar smile who is a “man of standing” (See Ruth 2:1) who just happens to be really sweet and down to eart- Sorry…I’m getting carried away.), sweeping us off our feet and causing us to live happily ever after. I’m sure that’s not exactly how their life went, but I’ll save that for a later post.

You might feel the “one” God has promised you, the one you dream about, the one you pray for, your “Boaz”, is probably lost and just won’t ask for directions. If he would just hurry up already, right?

Though, like this story, Ruth was older, had already been married for 10 years, had moved in with her Mother-in-law and was picking up scraps from a field before Boaz noticed her.

It’s not too late for me and it’s not too late for you. We’re in the right place!

God hasn’t forgotten us. He hasn’t changed His mind. His promise still stands.

Hold on to it. Hold on to Him.

Do “All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character”? (Ruth 3:11)

Keep praying. Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep living for and pursuing God.

You never know who might notice you while you’re doing what God has called you to.

Oh, and if you happen to see my Boaz wondering around lost, can you point him in my direction? Thanks.

Happy New Year...what about the Old Year?

If you ever have a free moment or time for a coffee, hit me up. I've got quite the stories of what God has done in me and my family this past year. I want to hear your stories too!

Sometimes, it's really easy for me to cry out to God, wonder where He is in my current circumstance, only later to look back and see that He was not only there, but He was working! I guess my hindsight really is 20/20.

So, looking back on 2011, or what I like to refer to as "Old Year", I've seen God be patient with me. I've seen Him bless and guide my choices. I've seen Him sustain me. I've seen Him keep 3 precious little girls in our family, ultimately to stay with us forever. I've seen Him through every month, week and even day; doing life with me. Never leaving.

Of course, the cliche` thing to do now is make a New Year's Resolution, right? Ok, then. My silly, crazy, out-of-the-box choice for 2012 is to be a "Classy Vegetarian". What does that mean? Simply, no meat. I've already had people ask legalistic questions like, are you cutting dairy or if 'no meat' includes fish...here's the thing: it's no meat. That's it. Nothing fancy. I already don't eat much meat as it is, so this is just me going all the way.

Feel free to pray for me. Or just take the meat I'm not eating.

I'm not stopping here though. I don't want to be remembered as the girl who didn't eat meat in 2012. Naw, that's not good enough.

Here's what I really want to do in 2012: I want to pursue peace. In every area. In each choice. Every relationship. I don't want things left unsaid, or disagreements left in the air. I want to clear all the spiderwebs of whatever that gunk is between me and other people, but mainly, between me and God.

I want 2012 to be the year I fully embrace Psalm 34:14, "Seek peace and pursue it." Peace with every day, choice, person, especially God.

Remember in the Bible where it talks about that "peace that surpasses all understanding" thing? Yeah, that only comes from God. That's what I'm chasing.

Peace.

Doesn't that sound nice?

If you answered (or thought) yes, jump on board. Run after peace with me.


Come on 2012, give me your best. Give us your best.

Sitting on the sidelines

Have you heard Mandisa's new song "Waiting for Tomorrow"? Here's the Chorus:

Can't spend my whole life wastin'
Everything I know I've been given
'Cause you've made for so much more than
Sittin' on the side lines
I don't wanna look back and wonder
If good enough could've been better
Everyday's a day to start over
So, why am I waiting for tomorrow


I love that. Especially the line "You've made me for so much more than sittin' on the sidelines".

You know who sabotages myself more than anyone? Me.

I'll be the first to give you a lengthy list of why I can't do something; why I'm not qualified enough, pretty enough, talented enough...it's easy for me to sit on the sidelines.

I'm also a planner; I like to know what is going to happen when, where, how, etc. I like to play it safe...but that usually means taking myself out of the game and sitting on the sidelines.

Maybe with my decision years ago to wait for "Mr. Right", I've started waiting (or maybe stopping altogether) in other areas too.

That's not necessarily a good thing.

All I know is that I count myself out in almost every situation before I even have a chance to think about it.

Why do I do that?

I've just sat on the sidelines, figuring- no, KNOWING other people would be better at what God was calling me to do or be. The problem is that's just not true. God has called me to a specific plan; it was meant just for me.

The next line of the song is probably just as important: "I don't wanna look back and wonder if good enough could've been better".

Ouch. Wouldn't that stink if I looked back 20+ years from now and wished that I wasn't sitting on the sidelines, although safe, not doing the things I knew God had called me to?


So, here's my first step in everyday choosing not to sit on the sidelines. Get in the game and do what God has called me to, whatever that is.


Join me?

QUESTION:
Where do you need to jump in the "game"?

Passion: Purity

Something that I've always been passionate about is purity. Honestly, I haven't been as vocal about it in the last few years. No particular reason; I'm still passionate and practicing purity, but I guess I just toned down my bugle horn about it.

Almost 10 years ago, I went through 8 weeks of classes, studying, and completing a course through my church where I ultimately stood up in front of a few thousand people and vowed to stay pure. I was specific in the multiple areas where I would stay pure in my life. This is something I didn't take lightly. I'm sure TONS of churches do this. I'm sure to lot's of tweenies and teenagers after a little while, it's no big deal, but to me, it always has been. I've kept that promise, because I took it to heart and I recommitted it everyday to God. It was, and still is a daily choice.

Now, I'm not perfect, but again, this wasn't something I took lightly. I was a very old 12 year old.

So as I'm coming up on almost 10 years "clean" so to speak, I'm dedicating the next 10 to Him now. I'm planning ahead because I'm a planner and a freak and that's what I do. It's by the grace of God that I am where I am today and 10 years from now I want to be as blown away as I am today, if not more.

I got a ring when I was 12 and I've been wearing it ever since. For this "dedication" I just talked myself into buying a new one. When it arrived, I had to talk myself into actually taking the old one off. It was quite the pep talk. Guess you had to be there.
















So, here's my dedication to my Savior. The God who saved me. Who caught me at a young age. Saved me from having to go through awful things to find Him. Yeah, my testimony is kind of vanilla flavored, but I'm crying as I type this because I'm thinking of all of the good & bad He's brought me through. Just as I'm sure it's true in your life, you have no idea what He's done for me!!


I hope you have a passion for something.

And if it needs to be renewed, don't wait, renew it!