A Moment of Thankfulness.....

It has been a while since my last post....and I am really working on that. So I am asking you to please be patient with me while I attempt to become more organized. Me? Organized? That is truly a lifetime effort!!!!

Today, I want to just mention how thankful I am for my wonderful husband, Brian. God really outdid Himself in bringing us into each other's lives. God knew all that I needed, and with Brian came a lot of other wonderful qualities that I didn't even KNOW I needed!

Just a few nights ago, Brian and I were discussing whether or not a husband or wife could love each other so much that the spouse would become an idol. (loving that person more than God). This was a serious conversation, because, of course, it was about "us". Could we possibly be making each other an idol because of loving one another so deeply? We even talked about the love languages ("The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman). How God can love us with words of affirmation, giving of gifts (the ultimate Gift!!), acts of service, and maybe even quality time (but we have to to initiate that, through spending time with Him). But physical touch? What about that one?

We concluded that, if a husband and wife are both walking with the Lord and have a real relationship with Him, then God is also loving us through our spouse. Okay - so this isn't a groundbreaking moment here. I guess we were just evaluating our own marriage to keep it in check. But what my husband said next just melted me and his love and God's love just surrounded me in an amazing way. Brian said, "Then I need to love you well, otherwise, I would be getting in God's way of loving you too". That is Brian's character. He has so much integrity and is such a godly man, that it "fit" for him to say that. What love! I am so blessed!

I am so thankful for all of you who have been married for many years, and have been able to experience so much of life, love, and living by faith TOGETHER!! I am so encouraged when I think of you! But for you, this may be just another redundant paragraph. However, for both Brian and I, it is a lesson in God's AMAZING grace, in His redeeming love, in His ongoing blessing in our lives. We both went through some very difficult years where we each really needed to cling to God, even though we didn't understand why we had to be a part of a failing marriage, how God could possibly ever use us again (so much of Christendom mistakenly deems every divorced person as rendered useless and un-marriable), and we both desired SOOOO much what we thought we'd never have; a thriving passionate marriage, a loving home, and being able to minister together as a couple.

So.......ladies, can I just encourage you today, if you are married, to realize that you must love your husbands well, so that you don't get in the way of God loving Him too!

If you are not yet married....let this be an encouragement to you to only marry a man who is godly, full of integrity, and who intends to love you the way God wants Him to love you. In today's world, so many young Christian women let down their guard (and their standards) in order to get married within their personal time frame. Don't do it!! Wait prayerfully on God to bring that person into your life. Or, perhaps, to light a friendship on fire! Wait, but don't put your life on hold for that. Be busy serving God and others. It's God's time, not ours! And you are God's princess. He loves you more than any man ever could! Trust HIM!

I'm going into town to meet up with my hubbie for lunch today!!! It was so good chatting with you!! I will write again soon!

Love,
Diane