Thursday, March 29, 2012

Seasons of Life


I am loving the life stage that Christian and I are in right now. We were reflecting on the fact that after we got engaged last July several couples we know also became engaged. However, each and every one of those couples is beating us in getting married BEFORE us. I know because I see their cute little countdowns on twitter or Facebook. They are a month or even 8 days away from their big days while we are still planning and have a ways to go still. We are enduring/enjoying a pretty long engagement...almost a year, but what a great season it has been for us! A season of growth, maturity, learning and getting to know each others' strengths, weaknesses, gifts and more! I love Christian so much more than I did before. Even before we were engaged! I know without a shadow of a doubt that this time is making us stronger and healthier in the Lord and in our relationship.

Stages. Seasons. I love how God uses different times in our lives to draw us closer to himself. God used my courtship and engagement to Christian to show me his love, Christ's love for the Church and that, ultimately, that I am the bride of Christ. There are so many parallels between my relationship with Jesus and mine with Christian. I could go on and on. This is an intimate thought from deep within my heart, but I want to share it with you. Often, when Christian embraces me I cannot help but think that this is what it will be like when I am reunited with my first love Jesus Christ in heaven someday. I know that this is because Christian has guarded and loved me in a way that celebrates that I am a set-apart and beloved daughter of the King of kings. I pray that I get the spend the rest of my life on earth with Christian, yet being with him makes me yearn for Christ and heaven more. We both look forward to eternity together.  
I got to hold a newborn baby the other day. It is the closest that you can get to heaven is what I always say. She is a miracle; a gift from heaven above. So tiny and sweet. I look forward to the life stage of being parents. I can't imagine what it must be like to hold your baby and be so overcome with love, but know that God loves her way more than you ever could. It's overwhelming. It is one of those times in your life that God just has to teach you a lot about who is in control. You have to surrender everything, including your child to Him. 

For now, this whole time of engagement will soon come to a close and we will be standing at that alter tying the knot. We will enter a new season of married life with a sense of feeling prepared, but most of all we probably won't be ; ) I am sure it will be a time of greatly relying on the Lord and each other throught whatever comes our way. Exciting. 

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Remind Me

But they soon forgot what he had done
and did not wait for his plan to unfold. (Psalm 106:13 NIV)

I do not want to forget what the Lord has done for me. For us. Throughout our friendship and courtship He has done great things in drawing mine and Christian's hearts closer to the throne of God and also closer to each other. I know all this now and it is fresh on my mind. As I have traveled to Texas this weekend for bridal showers thrown by the most treasured of friends, I count my blessings. Right now it is very easy to remember all the things both good and bad that God has used to shape and mold us into the people that he wants us to be. But I want to get my heart ready now for the times that I will easily forget God's abundant blessings and hand on our lives. Hard times will come and know that I will be tempted to stray from God's very best. Just like the Israelites forgot how God had so powerfully worked to deliver them from bondage, I know that there will be times that I will forget to go before my holy God with thanksgiving. I hope and pray that in those moments the Lord and godly people on my life will remind me. Until then, my heart soars as I ponder Gods love for me, his precious daughter.

Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7 NIV)

Monday, March 5, 2012

Flourish

My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jeremiah 24:6, 7 NIV)

Have you heard about Flourish? Flourish retreat is for middle and high school young ladies to be held at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church March 16-17. The weekend-long conference will consist of large group teaching with Guest speakers and worship as well as numerous breakout sessions where the girls will be able to pick and choose which topical talks that they want to hear. Some of the breakouts include "Jesus, Aquantence or Friend?" and "Boys, Boys, Boys."

I believe that this will a life-changing event for young ladies. It will be a weekend not soon forgotten. That last time that Johnson Ferry had a girls retreat was when I was in the 9th grade which was way too long ago. It was a special weekend and I still remember a lot of what I learned and heard from God.

In the process of actually planning for one of the break out sessions for the retreat and watching my mom prepare one, I have felt so clearly that God wants to use this weekend in mighty ways in these young ladies' lives. He so desires to have their hearts and to walk with them closely.

Like I began to find when I was in middle school, I want these girls to see how treasured they are by the King of Kings; that they are his princesses. I want them to see what a real, intimate relationship with Jesus looks like.
I want them to find out that God knows the deepest desires of their hearts even before they know themselves. I want them to know that he has a plan and purpose for their lives.

You can register or register a girl that you love up for the retreat online here...

http://jfaccess.johnsonferry.org/default.aspx?page=3357&eventId=2270

And here...

http://jfaccess.johnsonferry.org/default.aspx?page=3357&eventId=2244