That sappy stuff

I think it's the sweetest thing whenever I see husbands post on FB or Instagram about how blessed they are to have such a godly, gentle, passionate, beautiful, and fun wife to journey through life with. You can just imagine the smile that swept across their face when they would recall how they first met and how it took him forever to build up the guts to ask her out on a date.

I pray that I can be that kind of wife to my future husband that he can't help but let the world know how lucky he is!

Let's be honest here... I love LOVE. Maybe I've experienced mere glimpses of it in my past relationships with people but I don't think I've come close to tapping into that secret tune that has the world humming love songs or those smiles that come out of nowhere just with the thought of that person. No, I don't think I quite get it yet. Not that I don't want to. I want it, trust me. I just don't want to be in a romantic relationship that will ever distract or take me away from my intimate relationship with God. I've been there and as hard as it was to walk away, I did. To most, this might not make sense. "You don't want a relationship because of your relationship with Jesus?" I know. Kind of confusing. There are many facets of love. The love I'm referring to in this entry is all that sappy stuff. The relationship I have with God is the way a little girl loves her father. Just thought I would clear the air. Hope that did the trick.

Anyways, I hope to marry a man that will display strong facets of who Christ is each new day so the more I fall in love with Christ I will continue to fall more in love with my husband. Someone I can learn from and grow with. That when I look into his eyes there would be a sort of soft form of grace and understanding. His hands ready to serve but ready to lead. A voice that holds authority but a sense of safety for me and our many children. Of course, I want to reciprocate that so I won't be the only one taking away from our relationship. I want to add laughter to his years and a home that he can find rest and support in physically and spiritually. Among other things.

Proverbs 31? You know, where it talks about the wife of noble character. Of course you do! Every Christian woman will hear about it at least once in their life.* That's the kind of woman I strive to be. Maybe one day I'll be able to bless a man like that.

*Or hundreds of times. You may even had to have studied so you could write it word for word with all the correct punctuation for your monthly exam in Biblical Application. No? Oh, well you missed out on some intense late night cramming.

#1 why God is my hero.

How could I run from Your great love? It is the very essence of my existance.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Listen.

Have you ever just stopped and thought about how much noise we have in our life? Now when I say noise, I mean noise as in: distractions.  There are so many things that distract us from listening to the voice of God.  Our world and all it's glitter and glamor is like a pair of earphones.  They block out anything and everything and keeps out the rest of the world's happenings.  Another name for these earphones are "things that keep you really busy."  Now I'm not saying that being busy is a bad thing.  Not at all.  My point is that when we become so busy that we forget to stop and listen, spend sweet quiet time with Jesus.  He's right there trying to get your attention but we can't hear him until we simplify our lives and hearts.

Find what you've made your pair of earphones in your life and take them off! Listen. Be still... and get to know the God who is LOVE.

A man on a white horse

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid (as we're inclined to do),
I need not a handsome man
But let him be like You;
I do not need one big and strong
Nor yet so very tall,
Nor need he be some genius,
Or wealthy, Lord, at all;
But let his head be high, dear God,
And let his eye be clear,
His shoulders straight, whate'er his state,
Whate'er his earthly sphere;
And let his face have character,
A ruggedness of soul,
And let his whole life show, dear God,
A singleness of goal;
Then when he comes
(As he will come)
With quiet eyes aglow,
I'll understand that he's the man
I prayed for long ago.

-Ruth Bell Graham (collected poems, p. 35)

Only You

Dusty my soul tonight.
Earth has been dear.
Bewildered, I come to You,
Father God, hear.
Idols that charm me,
dreams that allure,
pains that alarm me,
suspense to endure,
memories that linger,
thoughts that ensnare,
a heart that is aching,
all crumpled by care,
unsatisfied, restless,
scarce able to pray—
everything, everything
take it away.
Only You,
none but You,
Jesus alone:
ashes the rest to me,
songs with a groan,
take them each one away—
mind not my tears—
lift me above this earth’s
joys and its fears,
give me Yourself alone—
nothing beside—
so will I be with You,
content,
satisfied!

-Ruth Bell Graham

[If] I marry...

If I marry: He must be so tall that when he is on his knees he reaches all the way to heaven. His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family. His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss. Love must be so deep that it takes its stand in Christ and so wide that it takes in the whole lost world. He must be active enough to save souls. He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful. His arms must be strong enough to carry a little child.

-Ruth Bell Graham (at age 17)

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

{Roses and their meanings...}

Red Rose: The most popular of all rose colors, red roses symbolize deep love, romance and passion The red rose has long been a symbol of beauty and perfection and can also symbolize courage. A dark red or burgundy rose depicts a beauty that is uncontrived and unadorned.

White Rose: White roses represent purity and innocence and can also symbolize reverence and humility. They are often used in bridal bouquets as a symbol of spiritual love, unity and new beginnings. White roses are also used in sympathy arrangements for funerals.

Pink Rose: Pink roses convey a message of elegance, grace and gentleness. Deep pink often signifies appreciation and gratitude while light pink signifies admiration, joy and sweetness.

Yellow Rose: Yellow roses symbolize friendship, happiness and warmth. Yellow roses can also convey a desire to start anew or give a relationship a second chance after a quarrel or misunderstanding.

Orange Rose: The bright and bold color of orange roses represents enthusiasm, energy. Orange roses can also convey pride in an accomplishment or celebration of a new beginning or venture.

Purple Rose / Lavender Rose: Lavender or Purple Roses express the feeling of love at first sight.

Peach Rose: Peach Roses can convey many different sentiments such as gratitude, appreciation, admiration or sympathy. They can also convey friendship and sociability. A pale peach rose symbolizes modesty.

Coral Rose: Coral Roses represent desire, passion and excitement. It also says "I admire your accomplishments" and represents good fortune.

Blue Rose: Blue Roses symbolize mystery or something desired, but unattainable. Blue roses do not occur naturally and are artificially colored.

Yellow Rose with Red Tips: A yellow rose with red tips symbolizes friendship falling into love.

Psalm 139

Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
You hem me in-  behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vasr is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.  When I awake, I am still with you.
If only you would slay the wicked, O God!  Away from me you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

He Only Takes The Best...

God saw he was getting tired,
and a cure was not to be;
So he put His arms around him,
and whispered, "Come with me."
With tearful eyes
we watched him suffer,
and saw him fade away.
Although we loved him dearly,
we could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard-working hands to rest;
God broke our hearts
to prove to us,
HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST!

Today we went to a funeral for an old friend who was a father and husband of 55 years... and this was a poem that was on the front of the memory book.  It brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me of all those last moments we had with my dad before he was called home. 
Battling cancer is such a physical and emotional drain on the victim and those around him.  It was such a heavy weight on my dad's shoulders and the rest of my family. 
I'm so blessed that my relationship with him grew those last few years:)  So now I can say He truly only takes the best!!

To "live like you're dying"........

You hear the phrase "live like you're dying" quite often.  There is even a country song based off that line!  So why is it that we put so much importance in the things that mean nothing in the end?  Why is it only when we're losing ourselves that we realize what the valuable things in life really are?
When people receive the news of their time left to live, it is only then that they know what to go and make right.  They feel the urge to not put off til tomorrow what could be done today.  I know that if some of us knew the number of days we were to live, we would hurry to rush and finish the things we want to do.... we would stop procrastinating to do good and share the Truth!
Everyday we should be saying, "Just one more!  Lord, I just want to bring one more to Christ before you take me back home!"  Yet we shy away from opportunities and put it off til tomorrow...
Is there something that you feel God has asked you to do but you keep putting it off?  Pray about it.  Ask God to reveal to you what it is you're doing and make a change right now!! 
Live like you're dying!!! 
Live like Jesus is coming for you today!!!