Letting God Write Your Love Story

For me, it's all about trust. Trusting God, and surrendering my dreams for His plans...He already knows my dreams, and what is best for me, even better than I know myself. There is a comfort in knowing that my Heavenly Father, Who loves me more than I can imagine or deserve, is working right now to bring a future husband into my life, if that is His will. If it is not, I have peace knowing that He has a great adventure in store for me as a single person. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 The best part is, as His child, my desires have become His, so I can trust that whatever His plan is, it will be better than I can ever imagine. To discover life, Jesus says I have to give mine up (see Luke 9:24; John 12:25). My love life is no different. If I really desire to one day discover the "beautiful side of love, I have to first walk through the "painful side". Laying my life down is not the fun part, it's the essential part! If I'm ever going to hear the "sweeter song" that God created me to hear, then I'm going to have to first open the door to Jesus and let Him have His way. And I have to trust that He, as the inventor of romance, knows how to write a beautiful story, and create beauty from ashes... I dream of someone who treats me like a princess, someone who is sensitive, tender, gentle, brave, full of integrity, servant-hearted, and honorable...just to name a few! When I think about those traits, I realize I am describing my Savior, and it is He who has put those desires in my heart. I know no one is perfect, neither am I, but I am holding out for someone who is Christlike. I don't want to be desperate for attention or affection. I want to be patient, knowing God's timing and plan for me is perfect. Lord, I am trusting in You. Help me to be patient, drawing me ever closer to You while I wait for You to reveal the path I am to take. Each day is a gift and an adventure when I'm walking with You, my First Love...fill me with contentment and joy each step of the way...

From "Jesus Calling" , by Sarah Young

December 4

MY THOUGHTS are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways and thoughts higher than yours. Remember who I AM when you spend time with Me. Marvel at the wonder of being able to commune with the King of the universe - any time, any place. Never take this amazing privilege for granted!

Though I am vastly higher and greater than you, I am training you to think My thoughts. As you spend time in My Presence, My thoughts gradually form in your mind. My Spirit is the Director of this process. Sometimes He brings Bible verses to mind. Sometimes He enables you to hear Me "speak" directly to you. These communications strengthen you and prepare you for whatever is before you on your life-path. Take time to listen to My voice. Through your sacrifice of precious time, I bless you far more than you dare to ask.

Col. 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

WHY WAIT???

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your way, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

The following is from my daily devotions from IN TOUCH by Charles Stanley...I thought it worth sharing...

On life's road, crucial decisions are like intersections that call for a choice of direction. If we barrel through without seeking the mind of Christ, the road we pick may lead to regret and heartache. Although the Lord is ready and willing to offer clear direction, He doesn't always give it quickly. Knowing that He has very good reasons for withholding immediate instruction can help us wait patiently at the intersection for His guidance.
At times God leaves us in our confusion because He wants to get our attention. When everything is running smoothly, we tend to forget the Lord. But uncertainty draws us back to Him like a magnet. by aligning our steps with His and walking in submission to the Spirit, we open our ears to hear His voice.
Our waiting time is God's preparation time. In bringing about His sovereign purposes, He may put us on hold while He coordinates events to line up with His will. Sometimes the Lord has work to accomplish in us before we are ready to handle what He has planned for our future. If we instantly received His direction, we would never grow in faith. Spiritual maturity is evidenced in the ability to wait in peaceful confidence, trusting that in His time, we will know what to do.

If impatience tempts you to jump ahead of God's timing at a crossroad of decision, you risk stepping out of His will and missing the blessings. But by waiting until He gives clear direction, you will walk in His peace with certainty, instead of stumbling around in anxiety and confusion.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You hold my life in Your capable and loving Hands. Help me to grow in patience and trust in You as I wait at the crossroads to hear from You. In Your Precious name, I pray. Amen

LOVE IS....

LOVE is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not selfish, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. LOVE does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE never fails. 1Cor.13:6-8



Regardless of how hard one strives to love unconditionally, it is impossible. LOVE IS GOD, and God is the ONLY ONE capable of loving perfectly. He lives in us, and by His Spirit that fills us with His power and grace, we are called to love one another as perfectly as humanly possible. Unfortunately, we all fall short in one way or another, both knowingly and unknowingly, at times. And so we are to choose forgiveness. Both asking for it from someone we've wronged, and offering it to those who hurt us, no matter how deeply or how often. No matter the offense.



I think of the mercies He's shown me and how He makes Himself known to me. He is worthy of all He asks of me, and MORE. He knows my heart;, why it hurts, and He knows that I have hurt others; and still He loves and forgives me. I am humbled when I can look past my circumstances and see HIM...His handing reaching out for mine, waiting to draw me closer to Him, in childlike faithfulness.



He holds each tear I've cried in His hands, and He knows what each one has been shed for. There has never been a greater LOVE, and there will NEVER be a greater ONE than His Son. There should never be a greater reason for wanting to reach out and love as when I trust in Him, even when the pain seems unbearable...because it's not about me...it's about HIM!



Heavenly Father, You never let go, help me to be a light for You, even when the way, at times, seems so dark and I don't understand. Enable me to offer the same grace and forgiveness as You show me. Amen.

Color Change

Went to South Haven on a long awaited road trip with my friend Jan. We visited a really cute shop that's walls were the same color of yellow as my siding. They had the trim painted in the "watermelon" colors and it was so bright and cheery, just knew I needed to make a trip to Menards!!

I'm Still Yours

This coming Sunday, Aug. 8, I am being baptized! Words cannot express what this means to me personally. It has been said that the sacrament of BAPTISM is like a wedding ring - an outward symbol of the committment to Christ you have in your heart. Ironically, when listening to the radio this morning, I was reminded that our salvation and desire to follow Him doesn't come from our own desire to follow Christ; but from being born of HIM! His Holy Spirit living in me is the reason I have surrendered my life to Him! He has called me, EVEN me! I heard His still, small voice and answered...thank You, Jesus, for your unfailing, unconditional love for me.

I don't believe in coincidences, but as my friend Lisa calls them, "God-incidences". I would like to share with you the significance of this day.

The church that I have recently been worshipping at, Central Wesleyan, holds adult baptism services just once every summer. It is a full immersion baptism, in the pond behind the church. Before I knew of the date, I had already made the decision to be baptized, so this God-incidence, for me, is mindboggling. August 8 was my and Steve's wedding anniversary. Not only that, our former pastor, Kevin Harney, both of Corinth and Central, who had moved to CA last January, will be visiting and preaching at our church this day!

While my heart breaks that our marriage ended in divorce, a marriage that blessed us with the loves of my life, Ashley and Tyler, I am in awe that Jesus has chosen this date to signify the redeeming and healing work that He has done in my life. I now choose Him, and only Him, to spend eternity with.

There is a song, by Kutless, whose lyrics speak of the testimony that I will give the day of my baptism. I would like to share them with you. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your sacrifice on my behalf. I pray my life will be a living testimony of Your great love for me. Amen.

I'M STILL YOURS

If You washed away my vanity
If you took away my words
If all my world was swept away
Would You be enough for me?
Would my beating heart still sing?

If I lost it all
Would my hands stay lifted
To the God who gives and takes away
If You take it all
This life You've given
Still my heart will sing to You

When my life is not what I expected
The plans I made have failed
When there's nothing left to steal me away
Will You be enough for me?
Will my broken heart still sing?

Chorus

Even if You take it all away
You'll never let me go
You take it all away
But I still know
That I'm Yours
That I'm Still Yours
I'm Still Yours

Lucy’s Blog Pt. 5 – How to Love and be Loved

Lucy’s Blog Pt. 5 – How to Love and be Loved