He is faithful // How our God written love story began

                     

Two years ago I was living at the Wind River Ranch in Colorado away from the state called Alabama where my family and I had just moved too. It seemed like whole new culture and to hot for my taste. 

I was on the phone catching up with my mom when she mentioned that my sister spotted a young dude at our new church, that she thinks I need to meet. 

Eye roll on my end, but slightly curious I asked for his name, which I thought was a super odd name. I was expecting Tanner or Hunter.

 He apparently didn't have Facebook so there was no use trying to put my Facebook stalking skills to use and investigate. 

I didn't think about him at all until about 4 months later when I came home. 

Somehow he kept being brought up in conversation by my mom what flet like the whole 45min drive + Chipotle stop until home!

He somehow was good at everything!

 I was pretty skeptical at this point. He seems like that annoying good at everything, perfect type.

 About month later we had our first conversation outside of church I don't even know how it was brought up, but it was about camera gear.....of course.;) 

My sister was weeks away from getting married, my only excited focus was that I returned home and was about to get my very own room. (when your in a big family thats a big deal!).

 I still wasn't very interested, buuuuut maybe slightly curious about this guy now. 

People at church made small comments to my siblings on how we would be a great couple. 

(ugh.) 

Which only made me not want to talk to this guy even more. 

A girl at my workplace boyfriend worked with this guy named Karry, so she was also making hinting comments and playing matchmaker.

 On the Sundays that he was at church (he had job with weird hrs.) he somehow was almost always in a group conversation with my siblings. -_-

Grudgingly (but was it really?!) I would join the conversation. 

My brother was invited by him one Sunday to go see the new Star Wars 

(I really don't like star wars. I know,don't saber me or whatever.) this guy looked at my sister and I extended the same offer. 

Somehow later that evening I found myself in the back of his truck with my brother and Karry riding up front car pooling to meet his friend.

 I told myself this is me just settling in to my new home state. 

I still didn't know what to think of this guy. 

___________________________________________

My brother and I ended up going to a rodeo where this guy happened to the paramedic on duty, across the arena my brother spotted him. We ended up walking over and chatting. My brother walked away from us for a little bit and I found myself thinking this is it, if he liked me here would be his opportunity to ask me out........ We just awkwardly stood there instead. I mean this is mean what else would I be doing, but awkwardly standing next to a guy. The rodeo soon ended, my brother and I said a farewell and this paramedic leaned in to give that 'christian side hug.' (you know which one! ;) )

My brother and I walked out.
My brothers face as we left was almost the same knowing smirk of a close girlfriend.

My brother :"He totally likes you!"
Me: "What?! How do you know?" 
My brother: "I just know I wouldn't give a hug goodbye unless I liked the girl."
Me: "Aaron, we live in the south now......its a southern thing to hug."

I still was wondering and confused this wasn't the behavior of a typical interested suitor. He never singled me out or made any obvious remarks.






I was also in a season of struggling. I was in a new state, spent to many nights crying out to my Abba Father on how alone I was, how I just needed one friend. Not a man/husband, just a female friend!
I spent my nights surrendering my desires for my future wants and immediate needs of the heart to Him. After what seemed forever of doing this things with Karry began to change.





A few weeks after this rodeo, I was reminiscing of ice skating we did in Ohio a month before when we went up for a visit.
I put a shout out on social media for a group to go sometime.
 My friend from Ohio that I made comment about this guy too when visiting and being unsure if I was interested, but also unsure if he was, so it was totally fine.
She sent me a screen shot of my post with a smug smiling emoji.  (hint: he's firefighter2009) >>>>>>>

2 days later sitting in my church pew waiting for the service to start he slide behind with his arms across the pew looking at my siblings and I.

Him: "so we going skating today?"

Me: (thinking wait, what,whoa,huh......) ummm...sure yeah, I guess.

Church was soon to start so we sat forward and he went back to his tech booth. I was still thinking, wow, he really wants to go iceskating, but also thinking that my brother is going to a car show,so we will see what happens.
He came up to us right after church.

Him: "So which time slot works best"

Me: "Well,not sure who all we can get to go and Aaron (my brother) is going to a car show.
 But probably the last open skate"

Him "Okay, well, what is your number so we can txt what time."

Me: (ah, shoot, I can't not give it to him if its a plan....also does he realize its valentines day...) "Sure,uh its....."

Him: "Great."

I hopped into the car and my younger brothers first comment did you just give Karry your number...

I think I grumbled something of shut up along with some excuse and reasoning as I put the car in drive! 

My mom in the passenger seat with no comments just a slight smile hitting the corners of her mouth.

My thoughts were pretty simple...."Oh,My Goodness,I just gave my number to Karry!!!!"

After some communications with Karry time was set and he realized that no one else (or did he know all along no one would be available?!) at such a short notice, but my 2 younger siblings were available. 

So there we were skating around on valentines day surrounded by couples, love songs (and break up songs, wait why?!) filling our ears! 

After a while somehow it was just Karry and I skating, so I decided to just start firing away.

Me: "So if you could change the world in one way what would it be?"

Karry: "ummm,uh........"

Me: "Take your time.."

Karry: "Well, what about you?"

Me: *rattles of an answer on the awareness/preciousness/respect of a life young,old or unborn.)
      
I was still waiting for his answer and ended in some reply on his part that wasn't going to answer the question.

I moved on.

Me: "Who's your favorite bible Character?" *disclaimer Jesus wasn't allowed to be the answer

(skating is now a favorite date of mine.)

Karry: *after some thought.. "Probably Paul."

Me: "Cool,why?"

Karry looked over at me and sighed... "So many questions."

I decided to stop. Because clearly he didn't want to answer these questions.

Soon after we got off the ice. Karry suggested Kangaroo slushes that were across the street. Off we went I decided to not get any and was pretty happy about my decision when Karry offered to pay for my siblings. Phew! Dodged that one.

Later talking with my mom who wanted to know how the skate day was, I told her about my questionnaire and how annoying it was that he didn't want to answer.

Mom: "Those are kinda deep questions you usually don't ask people when you don't really know them"

I shrugged, awaiting my moms usual comments about how I need to be careful on how I intimidate guys.



I still had mixed emotions and still receiving mixed signals we had one more hang out time that I was pretty sure he liked me.

After a few more times of being around each other, I was setting up for an Awana event one weekday and he came walking into the building, I tried to not notice, but he was walking towards me!!!!

Karry:  *holding out a cd* I found this in the tech booth, Its from your sisters wedding. It was pretty good.

Me:  *wait he watched the video I made*... Oh,Thanks!

      

Karry: Anyway.... *looking around for someone else he needed to talk to before leaving and walks toward them*

Me *internally cringing and knowing that a lady who told my sister we would make a good match totally saw us TALKING* (which in a southern church is kinda a big deal apparently.)

That was honestly the only time he ever came up to just me to say something.

Okay, there was this one another time when I was walking across the parking lot and he was in a group talking, looked up and asked 'what I did to my hair?' (....is he trying to flirt?!).

I turned and walked over, "Ummm, I straightened it....."

So I seriously couldn't figure out if he liked me or not. Very confused me just kept telling myself he wasn't interested.

One day after church I walked up to him and my dad talking (I needed the keys to start the van.). Karry was getting my dads #. 

Karry and him were walking out of church a minute ago talking about Mountain unicycling (yes, its a thing.),so I thought, Oooookay, then does my dad want to give this a try vs regular giraffe unicycling?!

We got home and my mom told my dad had to talk to me. Which I thought was because I may of had trouble paying attention in church and dragged my sister into the distracted realm with me.

NOPE! My dad told me that Karry wanted to talk to him about something and my dads guess was me! 

YIKES! So he is interested!

I told my dad I would have some questions first, but would be open to it.

 My dad meet with him the next day and confirmed that.....

Karry wanted to date me!

One week later Karry and I meet up. 

It was a long week leading up to that of not eating and anxiety because I barely knew him and was kinda freaking out!

I wanted to ask some questions before agreeing to date. We decided on Starbucks, I didn't want him to buy everything, so I brought ice-cream to make coffee floats. 

I acted surprised when he had NEVER had a coffee float.

(I honestly had only had it once.)

He jumped right in by asking what questions I had.

I replied with, "Actually just one, whats your salvation story?"

He told his, I told mine.

Karry: "So your dad did say you had a bunch of questions (now knowing I didn't) , so I brought some too...."

Me: *grinning* "Great, I will just bounce off yours then." 

We then went through all the questions of beliefs and boundaries.

Not sure what to do next we sat there ready to leave, but not ready.

He invites me to a family barbecue. 

I sadly decline and let him know my family is going out of state for the weekend to my grandparents for Easter.

We say our farewells... *insert awkward christian side hug again!*

And so it began.

I don't even know when either of us actually started liking each other in that whole story.

Or when either of us knew that was the person we would spend the rest of our life with.

But somehow almost 2 years later we are creating a home and life,

 as man and wife!

'dwell in this land'

                    One week into being home and I think I've official caught up on sleep and every part of family updates.My little over 4 months in the mountains of Colorado has been a whirlwind. The fact that I ended up at a Christian ( 10 points) Dude Ranch (horses = 10 points) doing videography and photography ( 10 points) as a ministry (20 points) just blows my mind. God is so faithful and good.

    My excited nerves ran like never ending electrical surges through my veins as I was driving through the mountains, sleet came down and music filled my ears the adrenaline starting pumping this is my home for the next few months. I plunged head first into my task after the first week of familiarizing myself with programs, the ranch, getting tips from the ranches former videographer. After the first 2 weeks of Wounded Warrior Project family weeks we headed into our more normal guest weeks by the end of week 4 or 5 I was homesick. But what came up more frequently as get sick from food allergies. I couldn't figure it out, my body was being ultra sensitive. I have Celiac ,but my body doesn't usually react so badly to cross contamination.

Mid summer it was getting so bad my parents were encouraging that maybe I return home early.

                 The enemy was dealing a low blow and then whispering just quit in my ear. 

  I was telling myself I wasn't a quitter,but are you going to keep sacrificing your physical health?!

              A few girls on staff prayed for me throughout the weeks anytime it flared up,but it kept on happening.

I knew God wanted me at the ranch it was a weird feeling and even weird to type here,but I was supposed to stay the whole time I knew that. Though my emotions and physical health seemed to be taking all sorts of wacky turns tempting me to return home. I prayed, opened His word and the first verse my eyes fell upon was Psalms 37:3 ;

             "Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness."

I have never had a verse so specific and direct to my life situation at that moment, literally every word jumped out at me. Trust,Dwell and Feed off of His faithfulness. 

 The enemy was trying to cut me down,but my strength comes from the Lord and through Him I knew I could stand my ground. It probably wasn't until the last month and a 1/2 maybe last 2 months my reactions slowly got fewer and fewer. 

When we walk in faith and obedience He is faithful to lead us through. 

If I ever HAD to (cause I wouldn't otherwise) have something tattooed on me it would be 

"He is Faithful" that truth has been felt so much throughout every aspect of my life.

It just fills my soul to know that, that truth rings forever true never to lose its truth and impact.

                           This summer though it came with several obstacles ,allergies, a certain computer crashing and losing the 'must have' video footage that wasn't backed up yet, yeah,that was a stressful few weeks. Amidst all of that I grew. I grew in my 'techy' skills and videography skills, I grew spiritually, my eyes were awakened to spiritual warfare in a different battles at the ranch,but the biggest thing was the whole summer was, I got to focus on my job and my time at the ranch.
I lived in the present. Which the past year or two that has been a huge struggle.
I didn't try to plan or stress (at least to much) about the future. I built relationships with so many people I am blessed to call my friends. I was poured into and I was able to reach out and pour into others. At the ranch I saw flaws in myself and when you live with so many others you see their flaws, you learned to work through them no place and no person is perfect and the ranch is no exception. I loved watching and envisioning more on how people, the ranch could and did grow in its passion of serving and shining for Christ. My prayer for the guests each we was that us as staff could let them through us experience the love of Christ and I believe they did.
Whether it was week 1 and a wounded soldier had so much going on,severe PTSD and the fact that he would literally run away from the bible to by the end of the week he let one of the staff give him one to take home and read. Just seeing his transformation was worth it, but God continued to use the staff to reach a few young girls various weeks going through hardship and using us to have them feel accepted and secure then kept going with a young atheist coming to Christ by the end of a week and all the teens that week just huddling in a circle praying. I am reminded of His faithfulness along with His amazing power and love that can shine through us when we allow Him to use us as His willing vessels.
That's the point all of y'all to do everything with such a zeal and passion that we are blessed to be able to put forth in serving and shining for our amazing Savior.

 "What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds." -Will Rogers

                             Don't be afraid to fail,
                       Be afraid not to try.

being joy filled

        

        Have you ever noticed those people who have such joy? 

Even when going through a hard time, you see the struggle,but you also see a peace that seems to smile, radiating from their soul drawing you in,you are captivated.  

       You want that joy, that peaceful smile filled with hope and loving trust in something more!

               

                  I don't have the joy thing 100% figured out,but things I do know about being filled with a joyful spirit is that it isn't a 1,2,3 step process,it is like many other things a matter of the heart, an outflow with your connection with Jesus. Because Joy is found in Jesus, found in His promises in His word. Found in the midst of His sufferings at the cross.

Joy isn't a chipper expressed emotion, its a characteristic, a countenance I have often found of peace,hope and love.
Gods word tells us some great things about joy.
Its in His word we find that Joy isn't comfort in life,but it is a comfort to my soul knowing that He is joy and I can have joy midst trails and rough patches of life.
Promises filled with hope giving us peace and shows us the love of our great Father!

 Ps.16:11 "You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

           I love that promise. His presence is fullness of joy! God cannot lie,so this is truth.

We have knowledge that in His presence we find joy! He is Joy!

  John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy maybe full."

This was right after Jesus was speaking of abiding in His love.

Again joy is found in Him and in His promises that show His love. 

In that we have fulness of joy!

  John 17:13 "But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves."  

This verses context is Jesus talking to the disciples
and praying over them before He was betrayed.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the old testament.

He is Joy, He is the fulfillment,He is the gospel of truth and when you accept Him into your life His joy is fulfilled in you.

 Hebrews is my absolute favorite book of the bible,so I am happy to add this passage in the post which I find very impact full and the gospel in a verse.

 Hebrews 12:2  "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."   

It was His joy to suffer for us. Joy isn't always fun or a natural instinct its a choice.

 Jesus choose joy out of love and obedience to the Father.

You have to think to of everything leading up to this point.

He the Son of God, humbled Himself to come to earth in human form. (Phil.2) and not only in human form,but a servant. He took joyfully the lowest position...how humbling is that! 

He went further.

He allowed Himself to be mocked,spit upon, accused, whipped, a crown of thorns dug into his skull.

He joyfully choose to take this path in obedience with the Father will,fulfilling all prophecy.

                       James1:2 " My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trails,"
                                                                  
1Peter 4:13 "but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

                                  Joy is partaking of Christ who as a christian lives inside you.
                                                 Joy is found in obedience to the Father.
                                                                        In summary
                                                       Joy isn't an emotion its a person.
                                                 Joy isn't an attitude its a characteristic.
                                                           Joy isn't a feeling its a choice.
                                        Being joy filled radiates with all its contagiousness.
                                             Choosing Jesus is to choose to be Joy filled.

bonfire worship

Everyone likes to have the fire ignite within them of passion during a worship service and try to take that fire with them, but it fades away by the end of the day.

Do you ever wonder why?

  Worship in todays modern 'Christian church' is all about evoking feeling.

They want a bonfire worship service all about the feels. 

The emotion in the moment. (please note the italicized part)
They are about having a worship song that gets you worked up to be on fire for Jesus.
But after you leave church though that feeling fades.
Why? Because it was focused on the feeling not on Him.

 Not saying there is anything wrong with having a worship service that makes you feel emotional.
I love a good worship service, but its the motive.

 Is it to make you feel good and for you to feel like your on fire for God or is it to truly offer up praise to God?!

Love is a choice, not only just an emotion.
Not only is this true when it comes to you and your significant other, but also when it comes to God.
Only difference is obviously He is God and is always, true, right, never in the wrong and your spouse is a human who has a sin nature anywho, you get it.
(just wanted to clarify that)

 Lovingly worshiping God is not about sparks and fireworks and having good music.
Its being there at church with other believers to humbly coming to the throne of our God and Savior to worship because you love Him and more importantly He is God, deserving of all worship and praise.

The way I would define the word worship is- an outpouring of ones adoration, respect, and love for one viewed greater.
That's just my personal interpretation/what the word worship means to me. If I would define worship as a what it means to me it would be: to though unworthy come to Gods throne and humbly offer up praise to the one true God worthy of it all.

Here are 3 basic things churches do to try to have a bonfire worship service.

warning: I don't think all of these are wrong, but a. moderation and  b. what's the motive/ use caution.

1. Modernizing the music and having a heavy beat

2. repeating (seriously y'all repeating Jesus over and over again isn't a worship song)

3. Swaying, dancing, 'feeling' the music (mainly the charismatic churches.)

I personally don't want to the sparks and fireworks, I long only for Jesus, I desire to lift His name on high, I worship out of true adoration and love for who God is.

A Christians sole desire should be to offer up praise to the one who is worthy of all praise.

Here are 3 things I do for worship.

1. A heart washed clean and prepared to worship
You are entering the throne room of God to glorify His name. Only a high priest before Christ came could enter Christs presence after he was cleansed. 
Prepare your heart for worship.

2. One singular focus

 Alot of the time I shut my eyes. I get so very easily distracted by little kids or just people in front of me. I focus on the words of the song and their significance.

3. True intentions.
A lot times I noticed there are things people do,like lifting you hands during worship,most of the times I believe its out of a true heart of worship and other times its because they want to appear 'holy' or want attention. Its not my place to judge and its between them and the Lord.

Lifting of the hands is something I have done,but usually its right in front of me at mid rift.
Why!? Cause I don't want it to be done out of seeking attention or a distraction to others.


In summary.
You are in church because of Him. You are worshiping Him.
Worship Him.
Its not about you or how you feel its about glorifying God and loving God with all your heart,mind and strength.
Because He is worthy of all praise.

my flawless chef

                                                                               I am a little embarressed to tell this story,but I will take a deep breath and tell type.

This amazing chef I know,who is kinda famous because he is flawless in everything He creates, wanted me to cook along side him in upcoming cook/baking battle.

He choose me, out of a bunch of other people,who in all honesty I feel would have been alot more adequate. I was feeling shoked,excited and very inadequate,but with him being the leading chef, He promised to be there at all times and oversee every aspect of what we were baking. He told me about the recipe and the best part was we would eat the extras afterward, with that to entice me, we prepared and very soon we started. He would do alot of the main stuff and tell me what ingredients to grab,how much of what, how to mix the little things etc....

The first disaster was with the flour. I was running up with it and of course tripped. *poof* flour everywhere. As I apologized repeatedly...(Did I say it was everywhere?) He smiled, reassuring me that it was fine and He insisted on cleaning it up. As he cleaned up the mess,he instructed me to pick up the remander in the bag to add to the mix. I added the flour and soon we were happily working side by side once again. My side or the counter space, as I was chopping up pecans, was a mess.

I tried to keep it neat and clean like His,but failed miserably every time. "How do you kept your space so clean?" I muttered tired of the long day already. He smiled as he glanced at my mess, then onto my pecans that I chopped pathetically into uneven chuncks rather then the finely chopped pecans he asked for,but I was trying to not cut my fingers..(hint hint...afraidy cat).As if hurt he kindly and softly spoke "well,first I trust what my Father told me on cutting food and I have passed on to you that if put your hand here and here as you chop you won't have to fear cutting your fingers." He spotted out my fear and soon I humbly decided to trust his advice.Things began to go smoothly. That is until he told me to add a 1/4 teaspoon of a lemon zest. That wasn't the problem,it was when I glanced at the recipe it said 1 teaspoon, I figured He was mistaken and put the whole teaspoon in the mix. Thats when I felt him watching me as I dumped it in. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him cringe and as if I slapped him,the hurt clouded over his face. I turned beet red. "The recipe called for 1 teaspoon ." fumbled out of my mouth. He, like earlier with the same calm,forgiving attitude spoke,"well a 1/4 goes into the recipe the rest goes on the topping." 

 My jaw fell slightly. I humbly apologized near to tears cause I seemed to keep messing things up and I didn't trust him. He reassured me,"don't worry I got this." In the end we... uhem, HE somehow managed to finish and make it look all pretty on a plate......Guess what?..we won!!!! :)

 I was somewhat stunned..... we actually won,even with all the mistakes I was making. I looked at my champion chef and asked "why did you ask me to help you when you knowing knew I wasn't qualified and knew all I would do was mess things up and slow you down?" 

He gave me that knowing smile and as if His words smiled with Him, "Because I delight in having you with me at my side,working along side me."  I stared longingly in to His gentle, loving eyes. He continued,"Every mistake I saw coming, every mistake turned out for the good, even though every mistake made because you ignored my request hurt, but I willing and joyfully would clean it up, but also your mistakes made me smile as I saw you learn from them,I saw your longing to do it right and it worked out as you humbled yourself and trusted, we won and conquered."

 

 

If you haven't figured it out already this isn't a true story, but rather one I concocted while I was making brownies the other night, thinking on how Our Lord and Savior is like this flawless chef.

 

 

     He is perfect.

      (1Peter 2:22) (1John 3:5) (Heb. 5:8-9)

That title says enough, He is without sin, pure and as stated perfect.

 

 

     Do not fear, for He is able, trust in Him.

 (Ps.33:4-6) (Is. 41:10) (Is.41:13) (Ps.23:4) (deut.31:6)

We have nothing to fear if we trust in Him and know that He is truly able to do all that is in accordance with His will. We are commanded countless times not to fear.

 Not comforted, but commanded. I break this commandment sadly way to often, to fear is to sin.

 A sin that is forgiven,to all who know and accept Him, forgiven by a God of mercy and of justice.

He can forgive this grievance only because someone has paid the debt.

The life laid down for us because of our sin. He forgives because Jesus tells our God the just judge of all "This is my child and (s)he has repented, accepted me  and has put trust in me, the savior of the world, in whom I live and sacrificed my life for."

 

         Jesus Chose you.

              (John 15:16) (Eph.2:10) (Eph.1:5) (1Peter 2:9)

He chose you to prepare for His 2nd coming, to proclaim of His goodness, to shout out the good news of salvation, His power to redeem the lost and heal the broken.

 

 

                    We aren't perfect and admit it we mess things up a lot.

                     We are all sinners.

                  (Rom.3:23) (Rom.8:28) (1John 1:8) (John5:30)

We, like the assistant, are constantly spoiling things, getting in the way, but as our beloved Abba Father, He delights in us being there with Him. When we sin, it breaks His heart , but He forgives and redeems.  It is because of His grace, His sacrifice that we are able to join Him in heaven through faith and acceptance of Jesus our Lord. (1John 1:9)(John3:16-17) Because of Him (Jesus) we have an example to strive after and its through Him alone that we are able to strive to be a reflection of Jesus. (Phil.4:13)

 

 

 

         I am in such awe of our perfect flawless Savior who willingly forgives and cleans up my mistakes.

                   With joy He takes the lowest position being the servant.

     With joy and a willing heart I want to forgive, I want to take the lowest position, I want to reflect Christ that others may know His goodness, His glory and know that He is God, worthy of all praise.

 

 

         Matthew 5:13-16

 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.   Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that day again?

                           

             Ah, Valentines day is upon us once again.

            As a single young lady this 'holiday' has always been a 'blogging' struggle. Why?!

I hate seeing my feed filled with the single Christian young ladies blog posts that usually do the whole, Jesus is my boyfriend vibe!

                                           

        Uh,huh! I find that slightly ridiculous to say!

  Because its something single girls say to try to fill an emptiness they feel around this holiday or a away to comfort single girls around this holiday. Now not all of them post that sort of thing, but a lot of them or the I follow do.

You are the bride of Christ not something as cheesy and cliché as His 'girlfriend' and that He happens to be this 'boyfriend' of yours in times like these. To the ladies who are in a relationship you may gush about your boyfriend on this special day, but I know for a fact that you do it on other days of the year too!

                         Are you gushing about your Savior and His love for you year round?

 This day celebrates a man named Valentine who saw the significance of marriage and risked his life to bring it all about by preforming the ceremony in a time of war when marriage was forbidden.
       In reality businesses used that as their reason to seize an opportunity to sell, cards , flowers, and chocolate making it all hearts and cupids!
                 Now I am not against Valentines day at all! I actually love this holiday.
I think love, marriage, relationships are something so beautiful, sacred that needs to have at the core of it the love of Jesus Christ for He is love and marriage was His idea!




        I want to share my 3 thoughts on love!



1.A selfless love of my Savior. Love is to be selfless and Jesus demonstrated this on the cross and in every way He continues to pour into my life.
His love is unfathomable. Pure, without hypocrisy and sincere.
(John15:9, 13, Eph.5:2, 1Tim 1:5)



2. Love is vulnerable. When your in love and are opening up to someone it makes you vulnerable. Vulnerability should follow trust. A special someone in your life gains your trust and then they soon win your heart and your love. Marriage is giving 100%, not 50-50.
You put the selfless love of Christ at the core of that relationship and it will blossom as you walk through your life with Jesus Christ at the center.
You build your foundation of a relationship on a solid rock, a cornerstone.
Romance is something so beautiful and nothing makes me get butterflies in my stomach then a husband loving his wife as Christ loved the church and his wife respecting and honoring her husband in all she does. It speaks volumes. Candlelight dinners, blood red roses and chocolates.
A soft kiss on the forehead and the "I love you's" may come in a relationship, but when its built on Jesus Christ that is definitely something worth shooting for, for He is faithful.
(John.13:1, Eph. 5:25, Deut.7:9)



3. The greatest of these is love. One of Gods greatest commandments (1Cor.13:13) is to love.
Whether that would be a special someone, family or friends and even strangers we are commanded by our Lord and Savior to love with the same selfless love that Jesus showed. From washing the feet of His disciples to His death on the cross for our sins He loved well.
I want people to see the selfless love of Christ in  my life.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John15:13

I don't view this holiday as 100%  about romance, but taking a day to express to the one or ones closest to your heart your love for them.

This holiday is day that we can take to remind that person how dear we are to them even if they already know it.

                         As Christians we are commanded to love well, 1 Corinthians 13 a popular chapter on love makes the point that everything we do in Christ name if done without love then it amounts to nothing, the love of Jesus given unto us and Jesus within us (when you are born again)  enables us to love others.

 

         I challenge you to do acts of kindness out of love through Christ for someone else, a stranger.

                                     Buy them a coffee, leave them a note at the gas pump or a gas giftcard and also through out your week look for opportunities to love well, to go out of your way to express your love and appreciation for someone else.