A Journey to Love

I'm not sure who still reads my blog these days. I've been terrible about writing. I miss it in fact.



Love has been on my mind a lot recently. Love gained, love lost. What does it really mean to love someone? What does it look like to love God and in return love others. Why do we love? Really, "what is love?" has been my biggest question.



On my search to find love I've in fact found God. He is love: plain and simple. I wonder how I've missed that all these years? With Him there is nothing greater. Everything He does is a reflection of His great love for me. Love is the measure of all things. It is the beginning and the end. And I'm beginning to see why. God is the beginning and the end of all things. He is love.



I can use the two words interchangeably. Love transforms me. God transforms me. Love moves me. God moves me. Love sustains me. God sustains me. God is the perfect love. He alone is what my heart needs. With Him I can love and be content.



God has been SO faithful to me in my all my searching and questions! This is what He is all about: love. The more I search for love the more I find Him. Isn't that amazing! Isn't that sweet!



I'll end with this passage:



For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God... (Ephesians 3:14-19)



More to come...

Accept

I am tired, Jesus accepts me.
I am worried, Jesus accepts me.
I am heavy burdened, Jesus accepts me.
I am silly, Jesus accepts me.
I am joyful, Jesus accepts me.
I am sinful, Jesus accepts me...

Whatever you may be feeling or going through remember that Jesus receives you with open arms. He accepts you just the way you come to Him and loves you!

Walk out boldly into the new year knowing Jesus knows right where you are and is right there with you holding you and loving you every step of the way!

"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep"

...Maybe you've heard that expression before... It is a good one for sure!

I was reminded of it yesterday [and boy did I need it!] I'd like to say the sheer fact of it being Thanksgiving brought my focus to thankfulness and blessings but I'd be lying if I did. I've been trying to muster up some thankfulness in my heart for the past week or so. Frankly, it's been hard. I know I have much to be thankful for, but pain and worry seemed to be the thoughts that radiated in my mind and permeated my heart.

So yesterday, after lunch and a long rest my grandma and I decided to watch White Christmas, to help get us in the Christmas spirit. And as surely as he does every year, Bing Crosby sang this little song:
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings.

Which reminded me to count my blessings... instead of worrying. Which I know will turn my pain and worries into a thankful joyous song!

He Was HERE!

Hi friends!

I thought for sure I updated y'all at least once in September, but alas I didn't! I am so sorry to deprive you of all my random ramblings and thoughts. I feel assured someone out there is missing me... haha!

September was a busy month! [and GOOD!!]

I started a new job. One that totally fell in my lap and has been so much fun! I started the day after Labor day. The Lord is so gracious to always meet my needs. And never a day too early or too late! Oh, are you wondering where... Paper Affair. It is the most perfect fit; I work with great ladies, in a pretty shop and I get to sell one of the best things in the world: paper!

[I love it, can you tell?!]

Later in the month a (very special) certain someone traveled 15+ hours by plane to visit the great city of Atlanta. Oh, and hang out with me, meet all my friends, get to know my family and just have some good old fashion southern fun! And southern fun we had!

I am happy to report not only does he love me, but he loves Atlanta too!

I did my best to show him the real Atlanta... the good life. There is no where so great in all the world as Atlanta, at least not to call home. After calling Atlanta home for twenty-seven years I guess it has found it's way into my heart. And I was glad in only three weeks it seemed to find it's way into Stefan's heart too!

Stefan also got to experience another town that holds a very special place in my heart... Auburn! It was his first college football game. I was glad he got to see the very best for his first!

My parents treated us to a wonderful day on the plains!! I don't think any of us could have asked for a more perfect day!

WAR EAGLE!

I really should update more than once a month...

Hello Friends Who Still Follow My Blog!

In LESS than ONE month this man (my handsome boyfriend, Stefan)

will be coming to visit me!

I am looking forward to:

Seeing him face to face, not just computer screen to computer screen (althought we are SO thankful for Skype); Introducing him to all my sweet friends who have listened to me go on and on about us, have prayed for us and have loved me always; Taking him to all my favorite spots around town; Going on real live dates; The list could go on and on...

Pretty much I can't wait!

No Formula with God

I've been thinking about this a lot recently, formulas...

and grace.

The thoughts on formula came from a discussion we had in Bible study two weeks ago. We were talking about sexual purity and marriage. Somewhere in the conversation this [false] idea came up that if I am content in the Lord, fully satisfied in Him, and walking closely with Him He will bless me with a husband. WHOA sister! Where did this idea come from? God does not bless us because we are good. He blesses us because He is good and full of grace.

Some days I wish there was this formula (you know, A+B=C) we could follow as Christians to get what we want or to get where we want to be. But that is not what it means to follow Jesus. The only formula that I know is to listen for His voice and follow it, whatever He may call you to do. His grace will carry you through and His love will hold you up as you walk along the road He has marked for you.

I've Got the Urge to Say Something but Got Nothing Much to Say

[I'm laughing now because for not having much to say that is a rather wordy title]

Life is interesting these days.

I was [notice the past tense] working at the Capitol for two great men, Senator John Bulloch from south west GA and Senator Ralph Hudgens from the Athens area. It was a good experience. Much different than my last experience down there. Not better per say, not worse either, just different. That fun ended on May 5th, I packed my bags and headed to South Africa on May 7th to spend two weeks and two days visiting the man who has captured my heart. What a sweet time it was to have together! Seeing where he is from, meeting his friends and family, exploring the country, having fun, laughing together... we were very blessed in our time together!

I arrived back in the states on May 24th very tired and still recovering from being sick. [oh yes folks, I was sick for five days during my visit!] Eleven days have now passed since then and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. I know I need to get out there and find a J-O-B. But summer is tempting me with her bright sunshine and carefree spirit to put that off as long as I can...

In 15 days I turn 27...

That is about all I got. Not much after months of blog silence. So I'll end with a few nice pics from my trip!

Me and Stefan in Kruger National Park

At his parent's house

Fun on the farm feeding his brother's little lambs!