The Desires Of My Heart

First come love.  I will meet Mr. Right and we will fall hopelessly in love.  We will save our first kiss until our wedding and will be the most happy and perfect couple that you have ever seen.  He will lovingly tease me and we will laugh together all of the time.  I will bake him cookies and he will call his sweet.

Then he will pop the question.  He will have asked my dad’s permission, will get down on one knee, and will use my full name.  Rebekah will be hiding in the background to capture the entire thing on film.  It will be a complete surprise.

Then comes marriage, preferably in the golden fall.  I will be 21.  It will be a small affair with close friends and family in my parent’s back yard under the big walnut tree.  My father will be the preacher and my sister will be my maid of honor.  Instead of a wedding cake, I will help my mom make a gigantic strawberry pie.

Next comes the happily ever after.  A little home just down the road from my parents with a wraparound porch and a beautiful view of the forest.  We will have a Border Collie named Charlie, two boys named Elijah and Josiah, two girls named Esther and Naomi, and several adopted children.  We will grow old together.

Yes, these are my dreams that I have made for myself in all of their glory.

The problem is that they are my dreams, not God’s plans. 

King Solomon plainly states that, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9.

But, there is hope!

King David offered words of encouragement when he wrote, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” Psalms 37:4.

While there is no knight in shining armor riding his brave steed over the horizon, I know that the Creator of the universe, the one who knows the name of the furthest star that twinkles in the night sky and knows when the smallest sparrow falls to the ground.  The master of the world who paints the sunrises and the sunsets across the horizon with breath taking purple and pink hues.  He is the one who created my heart and He is the one who created this dream and placed it in my heart.  He knows when my prince charming will come galloping over the horizon on his brave white steed, and until that day, He is the one who will hold my heart.  He is the one who will fulfill me, even after my Mr. Right sweeps me off of my feet.  He is my first love.  He is the one who created me, knowing full well exactly when these dreams will come true and I know that it will be in His impeccably perfect timing.  I can rest in peace knowing that He is in full control of my future and not myself. 

Thank God.

28 Things I Learned in the 28 Days of February

1. You are never too old to get a Valentine's Day card from you grandma.
2. Hoop skirts are heavy.
3. Snow, That's all I'm gonna say, just snow.
4. 5 pound chihuahuas can't walk on ice.
5. Birthday parties in the dark are just as much fun (thanks F's).
6. Nutella is even better cold, who knew.
7. Roses can freeze if you leaves them out in the car when it is 15 degrees, but the amazing thing is that they thaw just fine.
8. I can eat 1/2 of a strawberry pie without getting sick.  Don't judge me, it was my birthday.
9. My sister can't be trusted.  
10. Sonic closes at mid-night, not 11 p.m., which is a very important thing to know when it is 10:43 p.m. and you have a group of 25 hungry people.
11. I will never understand people, no offence.  It's nothing personal, it's just that y'all don't make sense to me sometimes. 
12. My brother does not need espresso, 
13. My dad really can't cook, he isn't just faking it.
14. The Apostle Paul knew how to give an insult.  (Acts 23.3)
15. A gluten free diet is a little overwhelming, but I can do this.
16. Corn pasta is nasty.
17. Arkansas can have a winter, but it can stop now.
18. Before the throne of God above I have a strong, a perfect plea.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m4LMqQyH5Y)
19. If you stack candy corn up in a circle with the fat side out it looks like an ear of corn.
20. My sister likes the brake pedal.
21. I am a person of habit.  My mom pointed out that I eat one of two things everyday for lunch.
22. The Voice of the Martyrs has an app. 
23. I have an amazingly supportive mom.
24. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia has 35 letters in it and is the fear of long words, kinds ironic isn't it.
25. The Phone Tracker app completely drains your phone battery.
26. Marshmallows help sore throats.
27. Biscuits taste better when they are made in a dutch oven over an open fire. 
28. I don't know how to schedule a post  to, well, post, thus this being three days late.

today in nine words (well they are more like phrases, but that doesn't sound as nice)

* hot chocolate * foundations of education p. 215-234 * 

* mr. monk * homemade granola * 1 John * crackling fire *

 * late night reading * melting snow * baby calf *

A Godly man never indulges in a desire

that he cannot form
into a prayer to God ~ Unknown

oh the things that you can find on the world wide web

Psalms 65:8

From where the sun rises to where it sets, You inspire shouts of joy  ~ Psalms 65:8

For such a time as this ~Esther 4:14

     All little girls and boys have heard the story of brave and beautiful queen Esther.  How she was chosen to be queen and saved her people from evil Haman's plan to annihilate them.  She was placed in the kingdom for such a time as that.  A time when God would use her to save millions of people.  She did not do anything great or spectacular, she simply followed God and let Him use her to save his people from destruction.  
    God can use us too.  Just like he did Esther.  While we were more than likely not place in our current role in life to save an entire race of people, God can and will use us to do extraordinary things if we will just let Him.  Look for the opportunities that God places in your life.  Live life to the fullest and keep your eyes open, continually seeking out the open doors that He places before you.  Ask Him for the strength to walk through them.  Ask Him to use you in whatever situation you find yourself in at this very moment.  Our God is great and He can use the smallest most mundane moments in our life for His glory.
     Your "for such a time as this" moment could be helping an elderly lady across the street, or holding the door open for the mom with three toddlers and a crying baby at Chik-fil-a.  It could be as simple as smiling at the person sitting next to you in class.  If God can use you in just one persons life, to bless them in just one simple way, to encourage them and show them the love that God has so mercifully lavished upon us, then that day, no matter how hard, or boring, or routine it may have seemed was in God's plan and was used to glorify Him.

(my sweet little cousin on her 5th birthday)