{Love}

The best picture we have of the way God loves us, is marriage.

For this reason, my heart is also so full after weddings.

After getting married myself, they feel so much more meaningful to me.
As they have become such an act of worship.

'Love is patient, love is kind. I

t does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.'

~1 Corinthians 13:4-8~

Especially after watching two sweet friends get married.

Praying for an amazing marriage and many years

of loving each other and the Lord together.

Much Love,

L

Flip Flop Tan lines make me ridiculously happy.

The many reasons why I love summer. Anyone agree?

1. The flip flop tan lines. I can't help but admire them.
2. My hair dries so fast....its AMAZING. Air-dries.
3. Little kids wandering round in just a diaper. SO adorable it almost hurts.
4. Hanging outside & taking pictures. Everything looks prettier in the sun.
5. My pretty little painted toes (they are painted in the winter too) get to see the outside world.
6. Naturally highlighted hair.
7. New bathing suits from Target. Awesome. 
8. The beach. no explanation necessary.
9. Energy. For some reason I have more of it in the summer.
10. Weddings. Goodness im becoming more & more sentimental about them.
11. Iced water from starbucks. Totally the classy way to hydrate oneself.
12. No leggings or tights required for dressy wedding outfits.
13. Dreaming of Paris. (BTW europe has more of an appeal....I think im truly becoming an american....this is TOO funny)
14. iced vanilla lattes. (no explanation given, needed or should be expected.)
15. Ice cream....or specifically frozen custard. Yum.
16. Tanned skin. As much as my british snow white complexion can be fun....there's something about being tanned that I LOVE. I think i'm a vitamin D addict.
17. Berry picking. So berry fun. (couldnt resist)
18. Dancing in the car with the windows down....hair blowing in the wind.
19. These nude heels I found in payless shoes. Aren't they amazing.
20. Longer hours of daylight. Getting up early in the morning is SO much easier compared to ice & snow and darkness.
21. Being able to go for long bike rides either during the day or in the evening with A. I love being outdoors.
22. Volleyball. So much fun. 
23. Sunglasses. And the way they are permanently a part of everyday outfits. So much so that usually by the end of the summer, I have tan lines from them. (Not liking this part so much!)
24. Forgetting to grab a sweater when leaving the house first thing in the morning, then remembering that its warm out and you don't need it.
25. Remembering that the snow is probably 6 months away. yipppeeeee.

For these reasons, I'm seriously considering declaring myself a westcoast girl. Summer just makes me too happy....it should be a year-round thing.

Leave me a comment and tell me what your reason for enjoying summer is.

Much Love,

L


P.S. I may just be wanting an iphone because I want to use Instagram so badly. I even downloaded the app onto my ipod touch, but don't use it. Sigh. Anyone want to buy me one with a free plan ;)?

Dating Once Married.

'The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. 

I will make a helper suitable for him'...

Genesis 2:18

One of the fun things A&I have done since being married, is continue to date.

We didn't go on many while we were dating as we both lived in different countries.

So most of our trips to see each other were when both of us were 'home' from college and therefore we hung out with both our families a lot.

That was a fun season as we both got to know each other's families really well during that time.

We went on our first 'official' date the Summer of 2008 when I came to the States during my summer vacation to visit A.

We went to Chilis.

I'm sure we were quite overdressed but that's kinda how we roll.

If we do a 'date night' usually we like to dress up.

It's great how that can make an evening seem really special.

Not all date nights are to restaurants. 

We recently went to a basketball game....totally a well-spent $27 as we ended up in 7th row VIP seats. 

That's a fun story.

 

Other dates we have done are just walks around some pretty estates there are near our home.

But I love how dating while married continues to encourage intimacy.

Its our time away from the house, to spend time together.

My love language is totally quality time, so I adore these evenings.

They make me feel so connected to A.

Its a wonderful time to share your heart with each other, although lately we've been working on leaving topics like moving home, financial situation, difficulty with intimacy, job searching which are stressful for another time.

If you guys have any creative date ideas, I would love to hear them.

Also, what's your Love language.....I would love to hear that, you can take a short quiz here. So helpful for figuring out how other people feel loved.

Much Love,

L

P.S. You've probably heard this before but.....Marry your best friend - you'll never be bored!

{I Love} Sundays.

Source: maluna.tumblr.com via L on Pinterest

{I Love} this.

Please vote on the poll on the left side bar about future Link-Ups on All Glorious Within.

{On my Heart} Mondays. [Loving all the days of your life]

To love a spouse amid the flame of honeymoon passion is human,

but to love a spouse all the days of your life,

even before you ever lay eyes upon that person -

this kind of love is divine.

― Eric & Leslie Ludy, A Perfect Wedding ―

Love begins way before your wedding day, even before you ever meet 'The One' the Lord has for you. 

Love, the way the world throws at us, sounds alluring but is so different to real Love.

Dating whomever you want - no committment so no hurt involved right? 
If you really 'love' someone, you will sleep with them. 

See where the relationship goes, if you guys don't like it, well that's ok - it was just dating!
Sounds so carefree and full of pleasure.

But the root of a lot of the world's version of love is selfishness. 
How the other person completes us, how they make us feel, how they satisfy us 'in the moment'.

We stop wanting to be a part of the Love when we are not longer satisfied. 

Marriage thrives on a different kind of love, a divine kind.

We only have to look at scripture to understand it is nothing like what the world defines as love.

'Love is patient and kind. 
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
 It does not demand its own way.
 It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, 
and endures through every circumstance.'
{1 Corinthians 13: 4-7}

'A Poetic love is a selfless love.
It's noble, it's pure, it's tender, it's dignified, it's grand....
it's heavenly.
We all have our moments of selfless nobilioty, but poetic love isn't a one-time heroic deed. 
Rather, it's a lifelong lifestyle of romantic service to our spouse.'
― Eric & Leslie Ludy, A Perfect Wedding ―

One of the most beautiful ways of keeping romance alive in marriage is thinking of the other person. Being mindful of their needs.

This can start before you are married.

If you are single, you are still able to be mindful of the one that the Lord has planned for you.

You can care for them by loving them all your days.

How can you possibly love them all your days? You mean before you even know them.

That's what I am proposing!

When you are not married and the Lord hasn't yet shown you the one He has for you, there is an incredibly opportunity to still love them in waiting.

You can write them love notes or even songs as well as not allowing access to the inner depths of your heart to any guy who shows interest.

It is not a bad thing for a guy to work for your heart.

A man who is truly seeking God will work for the priviledge of knowing your heart.

I started a book of notes when I went to college, I will have to explain our story fully sometime to explain the beauty behind what the Lord was doing in my life. (I know I keep saying this.)

I had surrendered a relationship to the Lord and was not dating.

I did not have anyone pursuing me as much as I wanted that to be happening.

I bought a book and started writing letters to my future husband.

I wrote in that book through to the night before my wedding day.

It was such a wonderful gift to give to A.

I won't share with you any of the content as it is reserved for his eyes only - but it was my gift to him of the inner depths of my heart.

I wrote dreams in there, letters & prayers...when he did appear on the scene and we did not want to discuss any 'heavy' topics initially those went in there too.

I was able to pour my heart out in those letters, freely.

I wanted him to see my love for him all those days even when I was not sure who he was.

Even if you feel you didn't start early enough, or you are already in a relationship.

Why not start anyway. 

I have several amazing friends who started this so much earlier than I did.

But it was still beautiful even though I only wrote in my book for a few short years.

'God never wastes a test of patience.'

 ― Eric Ludy ―

'Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.'
― Elisabeth Elliot ―

The point I am trying to make is the importance of selfless love.

Sacrifice before you are married, builds sacrifice in marriage.
Patience now helps you to be more of a grace-dispenser in marriage.

'Before you get married, learn to give everything - 
and learn to give as if giving were the greatest pleasure, 
because it is. 
Learn to stop figuring out what you should be getting out of the deal. 
Learn to give without a required payback. 
Learn to give simply because God has given so much to you.'
― Eric & Leslie Ludy, A Perfect Wedding ―

Learning to give selflessly for me, is also a way to be content.

There is nothing like focusing on someone else to help you see what truly matters.

That you and your problems are really not that big.

Even if you have made mistakes in the past, God is a redemptive God.

He is able to wash your slate clean, wash you literally white as snow.

He frees us from our past enabling us to start living for Him today.

Live to glorify Him with your love life.

Trust him to show you the prince He has for you.

Show the Lord that you trust Him by living devoted to that prince all the days of your life.

Much Love,

L

That Perfect Valentine. {On My Heart}

 

This is perhaps more of an {On My Heart} post, but since it is Valentines Day, I thought it appropriate to share an article I return to every February 14th since reading it a few years ago.

It was written by a wonderful Sister-in-Christ who shared what the Lord taught her while she was praying through her ideal husband.

Having written a similar list myself (when I was 16), I am a huge advocate of this idea. Being able to prayerfully consider what qualities you desire your husband to have (and even from yourself before you get married).

Then pray and ask the Lord to help grow your future husband in these ways.

When a guy then comes into your life and doesn't display these qualities, trust the Lord that this may not be the guy for you.

If he is, the Lord will show you.

I found this super helpful as it showed me any 'red flags' in a guy and helped keep my heart in the right place when meeting someone who I was taken with.

With that in mind, this sweet girl was praying through her list of qualities and felt that the Lord was answering her:

I prayed for a man committed to God.

Jesus smiled, “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30

I prayed for a man that would be a spiritual leader.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man cometh

to the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6

I prayed for a man of high standards and integrity.

 “He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”  I Peter 2:22

I prayed for a man of the Word.

 “I am the living Word, and

I came to live with you.”  John 1:14

I prayed for a man that knew how to be a servant.

 “Jesus made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”  Philippians 2:7

I prayed for a man that was full of spiritual life.

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

I prayed for a man of faith and prayer.

Then I watched with amazement as He went out and spend all night in prayer...for me!  Luke 6:12

I prayed for a man that would provide for my needs.

He not only fed the five thousand long ago, He also feeds me today! Mark 6:41, Philippians 4:19

I prayed for a man that would be the head of the home and a leader. Someone to look up to spiritually.

 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:9

I prayed for a man that knew how to love others...even the unpleasant outcasts.

Jesus replied, “In that while you were all yet sinners [the lowest outcast],

I died for you.”  Romans 5:8

I prayed for someone that would help me walk closer to God.

And the more I got to know him, the closer I drew to God.  Psalm 23, Matthew 6:33

 {Adapted from The Perfect Valentine, Set Apart Girl Magazine, Feb 2009, Used with Permission}

What a beautiful reminder sweet friends, that all we desire in a relationship can be found in our first love.

In Christ alone. He alone satisfies.

Not even an earthly relationship compares.

Life is not more satisfying once you have a husband in your life.

He alone satisfies our every need.

Valentines Day is a day we can spend remembering our Love for the Lord. 

Don't get depressed, remember His promises on this day.

He has beautiful plans for you and longs for relationship with you.

If you want a love story today, start an eternal one with your prince. 

He won't let you down.

Much Love,

L

 
 {Photo Credit: Stephanie Bohde}

{On My Heart} Mondays. [Part 7: Sweet Friendships]

I have been blessed to meet some wonderful girls in my short lifetime.
Those with whom I have been able to share a hot cocoa, watch a girly movie, share our deepest desires, encourage each other & enjoy spending time together in general.
The older I get, the more I realise how rare & precious these friendships are.

We are so sinful, in general.
As girls, I've noticed how things can be overdramatized when it comes to relationships with each other. We are so fast to point out how a phone call got missed, an insensitive comment was made, or we felt betrayed.
Then we often shut down or withdraw, we try to punish them for hurting us.
Even when we try to forgive, we often find we hold on to those feelings of hurt or betrayal. We still remember things they said even after trying to 'resolve' the conflict.

Gone are the simple days when things were dramatic for about 5 minutes over sharing a toy, then we forgot about it and were best of friends again. How I long for those days.....
Ever noticed how children are so forgiving. They can be hurt by someone, literally pushed to the ground, but they get over it in minutes.

The Lord has been teaching me so much about how to truly resolve conflict & how to be a godly friend.
How to not look to friendships with girlfiriends as a replacement for His love.
How to ask myself if I am really turning to Him first or if I would rather see if that special girl of mine is home, so I can share my hurt & vent?
As the Lord has moved me around a lot, I have realised in the past I so looked to these beautiful friendships as a way of having my needs met, finding my identity and removing loneliness.
When I was in Middle School, I had a wonderful friendship with a sweet girl which was totally unhealthy. If she was not in school for a day, I was lost. If she wasn't sitting at a table, I couldn't sit there. Our relationship was so dramatic, full of passive aggresive behavior and withdrawal to punish and protect ourselves. Completely self-focused.
But if I am truly following Christ, then I need to follow His example of how to love people.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

{Phillippians 2:3-5}

If we all have an attitude of selflessness with each other, there are likely to be less conflicts.
The friendships I value the most are probably those with whom the girls are grasping this concept the most.
I need to start asking myself how I can serve her when talking.
How can I show her Jesus, even if this is uncomfortable for me.
When both serving & seeking Christ...the friendship is able to blossom into something
SO precious.

I have a few of these wonderful ladies in my life, I value my time & conversations with them SO MUCH! Most of them don't even live in the same place as me.
They encourage me to pursue the Lord when I am hurting.
Often I don't need them to pat me on the shoulder as I cry, I need them to tell me truth.
They know my heart's desire is to be more like Jesus.
That requires telling me when I am wrong at times.
I love it when they challenge me about whether I have taken the problem to the Lord first....because it shows me they truly care, about me & relationship with the Lord.
I may not love it at the time, but they understand that I will appreciate that more when I'm not so caught up 'in the moment.'
A lot of people could sit and sympathize with me and tell me how right I am to feel hurt by things, but to me a true friend will challenge me to grow from the situation and encourage me to trust the Lord, even if it hurts.
This kind of friendship is true edification, for both myself & the other person.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

{Colossians 3:12-13}

We are called to have a different reaction to each other than what the world tells us.
We are not to get angry quickly even if someone was insensitive, we are to be full of patience. Making allowances for their faults, and forgiving them.
That last verse hits me the hardest, the Lord has forgiven me...so I must forgive others.

'When both individuals are seeking to live a life that is all about Jesus, it will naturally result in a desire to make the friendship one in which they not only get more of Jesus, but become more like Him as well. A friendship that purposefully makes Him the center and draws both people close to Him will become a beautiful testimony of patient graciousness, humble servitude, and selfless love - spurring others on toward that same single-hearted pursuit.'

{Leslie Ludy - Set-Apart Friendship Part 2, Set Apart Girl Magazine} 

Our security comes from Christ alone. He is able to make us whole and complete.
He is able to love us perfectly, like no-one on this earth can.
Not even a husband.
May those difficult relationships remind us of that beautiful truth.


And those beautiful friendships.....well we are Blessed, friends.

Much Love,
L

{On My heart} Mondays. [Part 6: I'm just Me.]

Driving around in my car this week, I heard the song 'Who Says' by our friend, Selena.

I've heard it SO many times before, perhaps overplayed for a little while in the summer there,

but the part that really struck me while driving was 

'I'm no beauty queen, I'm just beautiful me....'

I've been stuck in a rut this past week of comparing myself to others.
Feeling insignificant & unhappy about the way the Lord is using me in my life.

Why can't I be seriously involved in our church and making a difference right now? 

Why can't I be mentoring young girls, something so close to my heart? 

Why doesn't my blog reach thousands of women and encourage them towards Christ? 

Why don't I have a gift for writing or taking amazing pictures?

The answer He has been trying to tell me....

Because I am no-one else but Me. 

He has not called me to live anyone else's life. 

He has called me to live my own.

His purpose for me is not the same as any of the other people in my life.

My life is not about me, it is supposed to be about Him.

The Lord may never give me a flair for writing what is close and dear to my heart. 

He equips me to do the things which He wants me to do in this life.

I really need to stop worrying about how other people are living their lives, and 

focus on Him.

Easier said than done in a blog world focused on the number of followers you have, 

or even in the real world which puts those with power and talent 

high up on a scale of importance.

God Himself does not value what this world values.

I may never be an important person in the world's eyes.

But I do want to do what the Lord wants me to do.

The Lord has given me a heart for children. (Among many things)

I currently work with them, love them & learn SO much from them.

This passion has become more obvious in my life since finishing High School.

After Graduation, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,
or even what the Lord was calling me to do with my life.
I was young, interested in so many different things &
the world seemed so big and exciting at the same time.

I took a gap year to serve at my church and figure out what God wanted of me.

I had a crazy year...at the end,
He opened doors to send me to India & the heart of Africa on mission trips.

As I walked through a market in the heart of Africa, I saw a whole variety of things strange to the world I had come from.
Yet, I felt a sense of home about the place.

From the chickens for sale in the marketplace to the butcher with its 'unsanitary' methods of harvesting meat. The place felt like home.

Remembering my long skirt around my heels and side bag lying against my side.

How I long to be back there.

To be back where I can work with the children that followed us, along the path to the village, out of curiosity for what we were doing.

The same children that did not speak our language, but understood a smile, a game of tag, hopscotch or even how to braid each other's hair.

Back to where a child was so tired, she fell asleep in my lap, feeling secure.

I ache to be back in these situations.

While I may not be the next Katie Davis, you should totally check her out here.

I understand what she means by her life's purpose being simple.

To love the least,
as we are commanded to do.

While the Lord has taken me through India, Asia, the Middle East & Africa to serve in this way....
He has currently called me to where I am.

This country.

This place.

This situation.
With the same command, to love the least.
To love those around me and continue to pour myself out for them on a daily basis.

Does this mean I have figured out what He wants me to do from now on?

Not yet. 

But I'm excited by the uncertainty, the expectation of all that is to come in life.
The hope that He might call me back with my own family to the heart of Africa.
Or wherever He wants to lead us.

As Elisabeth Elliott once said,

I'm excited with how the Lord plans on writing my story, with where He will take me.
What a wake-up call to stop comparing myself to anyone else and stop complaining about what He is currently withholding.
He has perfect plans for me, as He promises.

So as Selena continues in her song....

I wouldn't want to be anybody else.

Watch this video to feel challenged by your actions:

{On My Heart} Mondays. [Part 5: Appreciate your Husband's Counsel]

Well this may be one of the harder posts within the 'On my heart' series that I have felt the desire to write. I find that with a lot of this series really.

This post is particularly hard as it involves revealing major sin in my own life, ways in which I still need to grow.

Hopefully the message is worth hearing though, so stick with me for now.

During our 18-months as husband & wife, A & I have managed to develop a wonderful habit of reading good books together. We started reading 'The First 90 days of Marriage' by Eric and Leslie Ludy, venturing on to a variety of material which has been amazing and so thought-provoking.

This habit has us currently reading through 'Love and Respect' By Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.

I can't sing this book's praises enough!

We have been reading through it for a while due to its length and intense (at times) content.

(Totally not trying to put you off it though...really!)

The last chapter we read was about an area that wives really should work on with regard to listening to the counsel of our husbands.

So many things within the chapter hit home for me.

While these are based around the marriage relationship, there are many things in here which can be applied to any relationship in our lives.

Allow me to share a few with you.

(I am by no means an expert at anything marriage related, 

so I share as one at the beginning of this season in life....)

• When you focus on negative attributes in your husband, you ignore a lot of ability and insight which he does possess.

How easy is it to focus on the sin in someone's life, all the while trying to cover up and excuse our own. We feel that those around us are the ones who need correcting and ask God to reveal sin in other's lives to them. We pray for Him to help them see their errors, all the while making excuses (even to the Lord!) about our own sin. I, at times, am ashamed to admit that I do the same to my husband.

• Many wives, myself included, feel at times that our husbands have little to teach us or little wisdom to contribute to a problem.  

This is confirmed in the book, Love and Respect, by the author when he recalls many couples he has counselled. When truly honest with ourselves, I am sure a lot of wives would agree with this statement. For me this is probably linked to focus on negative attributes.

• Do not fall into the trap of feeling that because your husband appears unloving or uncaring, his ideas are not worth listening to.

How easy a trap this is to fall into in any relationship. When we believe the best about others, we trust that each person close to us has goodwill towards us. In the vast majority of my own experiences I have seen that A never tries to be unloving or uncaring. In fact, in most of these scenarios, he doesn't even realise he is coming across that way at all!
We need to understand that our husbands have wise insight. They are not seeking to be unloving in gently correcting us! 

• Do not hinder your husband or your relationship by having a false idea that you are more spiritually mature or wise than your husband.

By doing this, we are able to instill a fear in our husband that he won't be able to say the 'right' thing in a conversation. Even if we don't mean to give this impression, it can be done. If we do have this attitude (even without meaning to) we can cause him to shut down in a conversation and say nothing. Of course, usually we then allow this behavior to hurt us further, thinking that it confirms we are more mature.

• Women may be naturally intuitive, but do not fail to appreciate insight from your husband, given to you by God. We need our husbands to see some things clearly despite our own intuition.

My husband sees things in such a different way than I do. This is a good thing. It is God's way of allowing me to see things from a different perspective sometimes. This is so wonderful when I have a problem which feels so huge and overpowering to me, A gives me perspective to see this problem is really not as big as I think it is. I am just letting it be that big.
(One example of this at work in my life)

• Do not judge your husband with contempt. It is dishonoring to the Lord.

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. 

(1 Peter 3:1-2)

Sometimes I find myself believeing this verse says we must accept their authority, when they deserve it. But re-read it again. Nope, no conditions for this are mentioned. 

• Do you have an attitude of self-righteouness? Do you see his faults & mistakes easily? Do you want him to change & think of yourself as better, without the need of change?
  

'What I see happening in some marriages is that the wife believes - or appears to believe - that she does not sin. In many other marriages the only sin that a wife will readily admit to is her negative reaction to her husband's failure to be loving or for losing patience with the children. Beyond these areas, women do not see themselves as sinning, even though they readily admit to bad habits and wrong attitudes. They write these off to chemical imbalance, hormonal problems, or dysfunction due to family of origin.'

~ Love & Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Let us not fall into this trap, friends.

I will admit I struggle with a lot of these things. 

Sure, my husband may have many things to work on, as do I.

He may not have to work on the same things as I do. But you can be sure there are things which he excels in that I really need help with.

Let's not allow self-righteousness to destroy any relationships in our lives.

We are all sinners, saved by God's grace alone.

Let us give our husband's the respect & authority which is rightly theirs,
not wait until we feel they have earned it.

Much Love,
L