Beauty in the Waiting

Singleness.
There is beauty in the waiting.
Trust and allow the Lord to work on your heart.
God has a plan for you--He gave you, specifically you, unique talents and qualities to be used for His glory.
You are not used by God in spite of your singleness.
He does not see being single as a hindrance so why do we?
God doesn't look at you as incomplete without someone else.
You are; however, incomplete without Him.
With or without a partner God loves you.
Love yourself, when you are by yourself.
He won't leave your desire unchecked.
Trust in God's timing and understand that all other relationships should be built on the foundation of One.

Time

Time.

Time is strange.

One day, one moment can seem to suspend in time

While, simultaneously you are hit with the stark slap of "where did the time go?"

Thinking back on all the "remember whens", good times and laughs

Makes it hard to fathom the current reality.

One minute the sun is shining, matching the smile on your face and the laugh in your eyes.

The next minute, a storm rolls in, clouding your vision and pressing heavy precipitation on your heart and lungs.

Sometimes, you feel, this is okay because at least it lines up with the immovable feeling in your heart.

The piercing gap that now remains-- 

That makes it beat just a little bit differently,

That makes it strive harder to do the same amount of work.

Similar, in style, are you.

Beating a little differently--

Striving, suffering, fighting but ultimately surviving to push through each day, each moment...

The moments when you question if the pain will ever subside,

If you will ever stop missing them.

Unlikely. And that's okay--

They are irreplaceable.

And if missing them keeps them on your mind--keeps their qualities, characteristics, strength and love close to your heart, where perhaps you might grasp and share some of their goodness--spreading the love they showed you to others, then missing them will remain.

There will be moments you think of them and your heart swells with pride, bursting with love and appreciation.

And there will be moments you think of them and your heart bursts with the same intensity but with brokenness and sadness.

There is no prescription for grief.

Allow yourself the highs.

Embrace the lows.

There is growth in both.

There is grace in both.

And even when you feel lonely

You are never alone.

Beautiful

Do you know you're beautiful?
Since before you were born--
as you were knit in your mother's womb--
a plan set before you.
For beautiful you.
You are not beautiful defined by your weight, your looks, your clothes.
You are beautiful, simply and entirely, because you are you.
You are beautiful because no one else is you.
You are one of a kind, once upon a time, unique across all time beautiful.
Your looks may change over time
In fact, if you are blessed with years in this life it is a guarantee.
But the change in years does not alter true beauty--your beauty remains because you are you.
You are beautiful.


Being
Enveloped
And
Utterly
Transformed by
Infinite
Fulfilling &
Unrelenting
Love

Refuse to Crumble

The world will say you're not good enough.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will string you along only to dispose you heartlessly.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will strip you of your job--further, your financial security.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will be threatened by you and plan your demise.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will tempt you with empty promises.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will have you invest everything then kick you to the curb.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will smile in your face and stab you in the back.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will rob you: of opportunity, chances, dignity, love.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will torment your heart, bringing unrest to your soul.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will tell you you're beautiful then spit in your face.

Refuse to crumble.

The world will cheat you.

Refuse to crumble.

Refuse to crumble because none of those circumstances, despite how they make you feel, determine who you are.

Refuse to crumble because there is nothing more beautiful than rising up out of the ashes.

Refuse to crumble because crumbling is not what the Lord has for your life.

We will have trouble in this world but take heart, I have overcome the world.

Refuse to crumble because we are able to stand firm on the one who doesn't--Jesus Christ.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world" - John 16:33