Morning' Ladies!I can hardly wait until our Yes to God Tuesday study starts on July 1st to start discussing Lysa TerKeurst's book, "What Happens When Women Walk in Faith".
I am believing God to show Himself to us in only ways that He can. The last few Tuesday's I've tried to put something funny on here, but today I have to share with you what is on my heart. Seems as if I'm always saying something to the married women out here in blog land or those with children. Today I want to share a writing I did for my sister Michelle a few years ago. I framed it the most beautiful white wedding frame and gave it to her. She is single and longs for a husband and family. I told her the other night that I am going to start praying faithfully for her and the desires of our heart, something I haven't been doing. Satan has had his fun with her and she is just plain sick of it and just wants to wait on whatever and however long Jesus wants her to be single.
I believe we serve a God that of course has timing of His own. Sometimes we want something now and because we can't see the big picture, we try to make things happen according to our time line. I want to encourage all the single gals that if getting married is something your heart desires and you don't feel like God cares about this area of your life just you wait. Wait for God to make His move. Don't get discouraged and never give up on Him. I was a girl that shorted my God at blessing me because I took my life into my own hands and made my own plans. I laid down in many beds that gave me nothing but regret under the covers.
We serve a God that knows what is best for us. We serve a God that wants us to walk down the aisle and say our "I do's" with a pure heart. Didn't say a virgin physically because I believe that no matter how many men we've given ourselves to once we repent and ask for our Savior's forgiveness He sees us like a newborn out of the belly....a pure and innocent child of His.
Trust me when I say that if you have a past that you are ashamed of, there is nothing too dirty for Jesus to make white as snow. NOTHING. If there was I certainly wouldn't be able to look in the mirror and see a daughter of a King. That moment of surrender to Him makes all the ugly worth it because nobody has ever treated me the way He has. To know my past is being used for His glory??? Mind blowing. Being used by my Savior is so much sweeter than being used by the enemy. No comparison.
WAIT my friend...wait on Him for He is the One who created your heart that beats with passionate desires. Trust in Him and let Him sweep you off your feet and be the One to carry you over the threshold of faithfulness to your Father. I love you and I will be praying over you.
My Dear Bride,
I think of you so often. I see you when you’re having
feelings of loneliness and I long to hold you. I love when you
choose to cry out to Me because I want to be the One that you
intensely cry out to. I need all of you. Please trust
that I have wonderful plans for you. I‘ve begun a good work
in you. Please allow Me to complete what I've started. Please let Me have all of your heart. The plans you have for your life don’t
even compare to what I have in store for you, but I need you
to cooperate with me completely. I need you to surrender
and endure the hardships that lie ahead of you. I never said
following me would be easy, but know that I will make your
journey so worth it. I have a Promised Land that I want to
take you to. Land you’ve never set foot on before. To get there
you need to follow me. Trust me. Need me. Call out to me. Come
to me. Chase me. Abide in me. Wait with me. Wait until I am
ready to give you all that I have for you. See I have to be able to
trust you with what I have for you. I am a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Me so you be diligent and pursue me with all
of your heart. I need your walk and talk to match up. I need your
thoughts, words and actions to glorify Me. I need you for Kingdom gain. Will you learn to be content with having Me as your husband, your groom, your everything? When you spend time with me I will never make you feel any shame or regret. Let me be the love of your life for I love you so much. You can do nothing to make me turn my back on you. I just love everything about you, for I, your King am enthralled by your beauty.
Love,
Jesus your Groom
©2005 Lelia Chealey
I just read an awesome post by Krista at The Joy is in the Journey on her singleness. Here's a snippet of her post: Being single isn't a curse, and it isn't a death sentence. And if I am single for the rest of my life, I will thank Him for my singleness.
8 comments:
Lelia,
When I handed over my "singleness" to God, guess what He did? He brought into my life the man whom I know call husband. I agree that we have to wait on Him; abide in Him. When we do, God has so much for us!
Thanks for the beautiful post! It's a terrific reminder to have an intimate relationship with our Savior.
Prayers and Blessings,
Rebecca
Leila,
This was a beautiful post! Thank you for the kind words and for the link! I can't wait to meet you at She Speaks! I have linked your blog to "my favorites".
Lelia,
Once again I'm so deeply touched by your gift of writing. Thanks for sharing this awesome letter.
You are such a great sister and friend to many, I'm so blessed to know you.
I'm excited about the upcoming conference. I'll be praying for you guys through out the weekend.
I imagine lots of tears, hugs, laughter, oh I wish I was going!
NEXT year, God willing~
You are so precious to Him♥
Lelia,
You blog has blessed me from day one! I've told you before and I'll tell you again....you were the first person who encouraged me to keep writing. This has been so good for me. I've met some amazing women from all walks of life and we share prayer requests, life issues and encourage one another. God is pleased with you, sweet sister!
I wish I could go to the conference. I'm going to the Siesta Fiesta in Aug. so I couldn't swing this one so close to that one. I hope to meet you one day though and give you a big hug. You are special
Love you!
Valerie
Lelia,
This tugged at my heart. Not that I've never been married but that legally I am single right now. However, my heart's desire is similar to that of a single but intensified. I can't imagine my God not honoring my desire to restore my covenant with Him and my beloved and to keep the vows I made to Him and my beloved. The foundation is there but God still needs to do more work in me and to begin a good work in my beloved.
Unfortunately, I am NO where need that of Krista's comment that she is at peace with singleness forever.
If you so feel led, I would be honored and so grateful for you to pray for me and my beloved (Chris) and the restoration of our vows to God.
You are so talented. What a beautiful poem you wrote for your sister.
I have such a hard time understanding God's will, timing, and reasons. I have one friend who is 38 and she has never been married, never been kissed, never had a boyfriend, only a couple 'friendly' dates and she was a husband and kids. I've always heard that singleness is a gift and that if you have such strong desires for marriage, then you have not been gifted with singleness and thus will be married. But what's the point in living 99% of our lives in singleness if it is a gift in which we don't believe we were given. I love the Lord but oh how confused I can get at times on His Ways...thus the reason for my blog title...that are just that HIS WAYS and not ours...just like you said...we don't have the big picture or the full 4x6 photo...rather only a corner.
Love ya, girlfriend.
Paula
It's been a while since my last visit. I am sooo glad I stop by...love your post.
I have been there in the shame and guilt of my past. I would often think "How can God forgive me?" But He did!
I have read Lysa's book, so count me in for the bible study!
Beautiful and touching post, Lelia!
I especially loved this part:
"I just love everything about you, for I, your King am enthralled by your beauty."
Shannon Ethridge said at a conference I attended, "God gets giddy over us!"
Then she said to make it personal.
"God gets giddy over me!" :)
Giddy! Over me! :)
And I am so thankful for that, amen?
You have a beautiful heart, Lelia....I know that God is up in Heaven getting giddy over you!
God Bless,
Amy:)
I will send up a prayer for your sister and her heart Lelia. You have a beautiful heart my friend. See you in a few days!!
In His Graces~Pamela
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