Not Just Any Love Story

   Today is a special day in my life. It’s the one many little girls dream of. I am getting married today. Now, when I was younger, I wasn’t a girl who pictured her perfect wedding. And, even when I got older, I didn’t have a crazy vision in mind. But, as time went on, I began to wonder if I ever would get married. I had never been in a relationship and didn’t have any on the horizon. But I knew that I felt like it would be nice to have someone to share life with. So, I tried online dating.

   I went on a few dates with people but didn’t feel a love kind of connection with them. I knew love could grow but I also knew that I didn’t want to be unequally yoked, whether that be an unbeliever or someone who was on a different Christian path than me. Then I met Nate.

   I will say, it wasn’t love at first sight, and I wasn’t even sure I believed in that. But when I met him at Coffee Co. he had a large beard and I never pictured myself with someone who had a beard. But we talked for three hours about many different things. And not just surface level things but deep things too, which I enjoy discussing. We decided to continue our friendship.

   After about a month of dating, I asked Nate to go for a walk after our respective Easter celebrations with family. He said yes and we discussed what our relationship would look like if we were to have one. After that walk, Nate asked me to be his girlfriend.

   Now, I’m not saying everything was easy in our relationship. But I will say I feel so blessed to have this man in my life. I am so thankful for him. He is caring and has a servant’s heart. He listens and communicates well. And it’s a bonus that he and I have similar interests (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Marvel, Soccer, Writing, etc.).

   But, on this day, I don’t just want to tell you about my man. I also want to remember the promises I am making to him and myself. So, instead of doing a typical blog, this time I just wanted to share a bit of our story and also share my vows, so I have them in writing in multiple places.

   “Though it is hard to wait, I will because patience can make me great. It may be hard to always be kind and serve, but I will do my best even if you get on my last nerve. I may want to brag about my man, but I will try not to be prideful, if I can. To show respect is another thing I vow, because I was raised right, I know how. Another thing I will do is do my best to forgive others and you, because that’s what God has called us to do. Following your lead and helping you grow, that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, if you didn’t guess that well now you know. I love you and I’m so glad I get to spend the rest of my life with you. Oh, and one last thing I love about you, you are on standby for almost anyone in your life. So now it’s time for you to, ‘standby to get some.’”

   So, how are you showing love to those you love? Have you made any promises that you need to remember to keep?

   1 Corinthians 13:4-6

https://youtu.be/QIuJdWlnV_o

Love is Sacrifice

   Sometimes you are just busy being yourself and being authentic, then something great happens. True, what I am discussing now didn’t necessarily happen by itself, as Nate and I began our relationship on a dating website and chose one another, but the aftermath of this story did. Now, if you are like me, you know that you are not perfect. In fact, there are times when even I would find myself annoying or different. That is why I question how someone would want to be with me with all my downfalls but that’s beside the point.

   Nate and I are both good communicators and good at nonverbal communication as well. One day, we were watching Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and he had gotten sour patch kids to share. I didn’t eat too many of them but as the movie went on there ended up being only one left. In my brain I thought, “it would be nice if he would give me the last one” but I wasn’t expecting it. Then, Nate pointed the bag toward me. I smiled and took the last sour patch kid. This began a tradition of offering the last item to one another.

   Another time we were sitting on the couch talking and Nate began to get hot. He asked if we could turn the fan on. I did, and as time went on, I became cold. Nate seemed comfortable so I cuddled up to him and left the fan on.

   You can see where I am going here. When you love someone, you make sacrifices. Sacrifice means you give up something. You give up time, money, comfort, food, things, etc. so that you can show someone else you care. 

   Hebrews 13:16 reminds us of this when it says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” We are to do good to others. What does “good” mean? Well, you could think of the golden rule. You know, do unto others as you would want them to do to you. Or, you could just say whatever you would feel most loved in, do that.

   As you can see, sacrifice doesn’t have to be big. Jesus died for us, and we are to follow his example. That may not mean physically dying. It may mean dying to ourselves. To our needs and wants. That’s sacrifice. Sacrifice in the little things daily and you will be following Jesus’ example and command. So, how will you sacrifice today?

https://youtu.be/w2xZXM7kZsI

Rememberance

   Some of my friends are like Dory. Dory is a fish who has shirt term memory loss. It is hard for her to remember things that she just learned. We sometimes are like Dory too.
  There are things that happen in our lives that cause us to forget important ideas. We are to have remembrance of these ideals.
  Remembrance is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: "an act of recalling to mind or a memory of a person, thing, or event." Though, in times of crisis, it’s not always easy to remember.
   When problem after problem comes along, we forget. When the bills are due, but we don't have quite enough to get by, we forget. When that person who brings us down or rubs us the wrong way does it again, we forget. We forget that we are loved. We forget that we are a child of God. We forget that everything on this earth is temporary. We forget to go to Christ with our problems.
   2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." Many of the worries we have now are not going to matter in the long run. The only things that will matter in eternity is knowing Christ as our savior and how we serve others by bringing them to that same good news (now that doesn't mean we earn our salvation but I'm saying we are to spread the good news so others can know Christ as their savior).
   That is what we forget. We forget that God is with us and that we will spend eternity with him. That is what we need to remember when trials come.
   So, are you remembering what God has done for you? How can you spread the good news today?

https://youtu.be/OZPzOtxYnto

 

It's A Trap!

    I hope when you read the title, you thought about Admiral Ackbar. He's kind of captain obvious in the situation but there are times that traps come in life that are not so obvious.
   One of the times traps sneak up on us are when we are tempted. Oh, there are times where it is obvious that temptations are there like when you see the candy in the checkout line. But other times, whether due to fatigue, failure, or frustration, it's harder to say no.
   Think back to the temptation of Eve. She was innocent and thought the serpent was her friend. She didn't think that anything in God's creation would try to turn her from God. That's when Satan struck. He also used wily ways to try to get her to disobey God. He asked questions. He got her to doubt. He twisted God's words. He made her think she was missing out on some thing. All those strategies got her to walk into the trap. When the trap snapped shut it was too late for her to go back. There is no rewind button in life, as much as we wish there was.
   Maybe temptation isn't a trap you typically fall into. Another trap Satan likes to use is offense. If he can't get you to sin, he'll get you to be angry. That time someone went back on their word. That time someone falsely accused you. That time someone chose to hurt someone you love so they could get ahead. Oh, yeah, that will get you fired up. It's wrong. There should be justice. You do your best to follow God and people who do wrong reap benefits and good things. Why, God? It's not fair.
   You want to talk about not fair, look at Joseph's story. He obeyed his father, tried to be kind to his brothers, tried to do what's right, and still was hated by his brothers. He was so hated that his brothers threw him into a pit, he was sold into slavery, became a lowly slave, but rose in the ranks in Potiphar's house, was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and was thrown in prison. If anyone had a right to grump and be offended Joseph did.
   But, if Joseph did that, he wouldn't have been used by God. He chose to trust God. He chose to do the next right thing in each situation. He didn't get offended.
   If there is one thing in this life that is certain, other than the love of God, it is challenges will come. We will have traps come our way that Satan lays out to try to get us to turn from God. When they come, we have a choice. Will we fall into the trap, or will we turn away from it and follow God?
   So, what traps have been set for you recently? How can you avoid those traps?
https://youtu.be/Cva6WYqEn1g?si=ptzvVbFX2byhGZPr