Day 2283 – A New Date Location – No Talking Required

Posted on October 11, 2015 by 365 days of marriage

Today I took Bret to one of my new favorite libraries. Can I say how much I LOVE living in Howard County and their library system? AH! Beautiful libraries and amazing resources online (lynda.com included as a library perk, WHAT?!) Love, love, love.

After lunch, I suggested we go to the library so that I could work and he could do some reading of our study bible. Can I also say how much I love that my husband loves reading God’s word?

So we set up at a table and next thing I know, we’ve been there over two hours, stayed until they closed and barely said anything to each other. It was glorious. 🙂 Both of us get a lot done at the library, apparently. It was fun showing him how cool it was and that he was excited about it too. 🙂 Ladies and gentlemen, we have found our new date location.

Day 2267 – Your Days Are Numbered

Posted on September 25, 2015 by 365 days of marriage

This is going to be a “real” post. I’m going to talk about some things that are not exactly popular to talk about. It’s not normally seen as a “cheery” topic.

You are going to die someday.

There is no changing this fact. You can do all the right things, eat right, exercise, go to church, be nice to pigeons. It won’t matter, you will die.

“Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass.” Job 14:5

Here’s why I’m talking about death today. In a week, two people in my life passed away. I have assurance that both of them are in heaven right now. Both lived lives to the glory of God and placed saving faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to save them from their sins and go to heaven. Both lived beautiful lives and both left an amazing legacy behind. One was my grandfather who lived 93 amazing years and left a legacy of love for Christ behind him. The other was an amazing woman in her 30’s who fought cancer (and won I might add), who chose the life of her son over aggressive chemotherapy. Her story is truly amazing and I highly recommend you check it out (this is an article with info about her story and videos and other things that share her story).

I am grateful to have lived a life where I know my days are numbered. Starting at the age of 15, I went to funerals almost every year for about 5 years. Funerals of 21 year olds, 18 year olds, 30 year olds. I have had a very clear view of death for a long time. Honestly, after all of that death, I didn’t think I’d make it to 21. I am grateful for every day I have been blessed with and I try to make every day count and not hold things back or in.

Here’s what I know. Death is not scary if you have faith in Christ. If you believe that man is desperately wicked and sinful, that God made a way to be in right standing with Him by sending His perfect son to earth to live a perfect life and die a perfect death, taking on the sins of the world, for all time, that He rose again to defeat death and sin, that He is the only way to be saved, then you have no reason for fear of death.

Bret and I regularly say, “well, it’s been real. I love ya.” Almost daily, we recognize that God holds the days of our lives in His hands. That He is wise in when we will go home to be with Him.

I pray that you have no fear of death. I pray that you can find strength and joy if you are walking through the death of a loved one. If you are aching. Seek comfort in God. And remember, death has been defeated, so we can say:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54b-55

If you have any questions, please let me know. If you have a more personal question, my email is always open.

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Day 2266 – Answer To A Prayer Prayed About 27 Years Ago

Posted on September 24, 2015 by 365 days of marriage

Yesterday, my mom told me she found a note in one of my grandfather’s prayer journals. The journal was dated around 1986-1988. He prayed – “Dear Lord, please help Jenny Lynn (that’s how he referred to me) to be born again and to love and marry a Christian man.” His prayer that I be born again was answered very soon after. I believe I prayed the prayer around 5 or so. His second prayer was answered two thousand and sixty six days ago. 🙂 As I was thinking about this and thinking about how Bret spent his day yesterday while camping, I realized a few things.

I prayed for a Christian husband for years too but I think my prayer was woefully short.

I should have prayed for a man who not only was a Christian, but one loved God way more than me.
I should have prayed for a man who went to scripture first when he had a question about anything.
I should have prayed for a man who would make “unpopular” decisions based on what he read in scripture to protect himself and me.
I should have prayed for a man who gets so excited about learning more about God that when he realizes the knowledge found in a study bible actually has a giddy response like a kid in a candy store.
I should have prayed for a man who cares for me enough to call me on things that aren’t godly.
I should have prayed for a man who memorizes scripture to have a ready answer when asked.
I should have prayed for a man who was a photographer and didn’t know it.

I am grateful for the prayers that went into my husband before I knew he existed, for prayers that were prayed when he was about 2 and I was 4. I am grateful that while I didn’t know exactly how to pray for a Christan husband, God blessed me with everything in a husband I didn’t know to pray for. How good is God that He gives us what we need and not always what we want.

And I mean, come on, look at this guy!

Day 2265 – Protection By The Word Of God

Posted on September 23, 2015 by 365 days of marriage

If you didn’t know what we were doing yesterday, we’re camping! It’s been glorious so far! But there’s been a bit of a hazard situation going on.

One thing I never really thought about was what else falls from the trees in the fall besides leaves. Well sir, acorns falls from the trees. Big, fat, heavy acorns. Where we camp is in the woods, surrounded by trees. I would say every minute or so, an acorn falls. We’ve made a few jokes about it so far….but I think Bret’s has been my favorite.

“The Word of God is my shield!”

Day 2210 – What Do You Do When Your Heart Is Breaking?

Posted on July 30, 2015 by 365 days of marriage

Today, I am writing through tears and with many tear stains on my face. A number of my friends are walking through extremely difficult things. I received an update on one of my friends and I just lost it. I found myself nearly sobbing for each of my friends walking through unspeakable things. I grabbed my bible and started searching. I am not very wise and I could not come up with comforting words myself.

Like a soothing balm, the words of my Lord gave me peace. Hopefully, they will give peace to others.

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”
Psalm 18:28

This started a recurring theme in my search – there will be darkness, there will be struggle – we are not given easy lives – but we are given lives where God is there.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

Again, we WILL walk through the valley, but God is there, comforting us and leading us.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16

This is where I find my deepest comfort in the hard times – Christ has walked in my shoes. He has experienced the suffering and awfulness of this world. He UNDERSTANDS my pain. It is wonderful to be able to cry out “How did you do this??? But I know you did, so you can help me.”

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20b

How encouraging that we are not alone.

Dear friend, wherever you find yourself today, I do pray for you. I weep for you. My heart aches that you would find comfort.

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