some thought-filled words...

came across this picture on facebook this week, and it was so encouraging to remember that God gives good gifts to His children. Yes, don't settle. Yes, hold out for HIS best for your life. Yes, pray for not only a Christian man, but a passionately GODLY man!
But also, we should be remembering that one of the greatest things we can do for our future husband is to understand who we are in Christ and to seek and love HIM more and more! Pursue Christ today. Invest in your relationship to Him today. Don't let your heart grow cold.
Keep praying. Pray for God's work in the heart of your future husband. Grow in godly wisdom as you read His Word. He is working on transforming you into HIS image and is shaping your character. This is going to be so beautifully attractive to your husband.

a June note

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying "Get up quickly!" And the chains fell off Peter's wrists. -Acts 12:7.

Reading this today, it was a beautiful picture to me of the freeing POWER of Christ. The angel didn't have to work with Peter's chains to get them off... cut them, etc. The chains simply fell off Peter's wrists.

God used these verses to remind me that if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed, John 8:36.

What has been keeping you in bondage? What would you like to get free from? I don't have to worry about how to get rid of my chains - whatever tries to entrap me, distract me, or make me stumble. God's Word makes it clear that Jesus is the One Who saves. My heart should be confident that as I confess my sins and shortcomings, as I look to HIM for forgiveness and grace, that He does cleanse. It's what He promises us. As I ask for safety and deliverance and freedom, He answers. He loves me. This is the gospel! I John 2 tells us this, if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, and He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Liberation.Redemption.Salvation.
I should never be anxious or despairing because of the enemy. My GOD is greater. My GOD is the Almighty GOD. He has all power. We're promised victory. The chains fell off. 
Galatians 5:1, In this freedom Christ has made us free and completely liberated us; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery which you have once put off.