Toad Prince. No substitutes.

As we look around and see large amounts of flowers, candy, pink & red, couples being rather affectionate, us who are not involved in this "love season" (aka Valentines day) begin to have a desperate/lonely feelings, a low point. We have the realization of I am alone, everyone else has some one, etc.... what ever you tell yourself as you pop bon bons in your mouth while watching Sleepless in Seattle. Its a little pathetic we must admit.

So I am doing a bible study with JoAn Ryan and 10th graders at Riverstone, and we talking about waiting for our what man God has for us, not settling for a Toad Prince, but the real deal. No substitutes, no allowances, no exceptions. But learning to wait on a man who does not only honor and love the Lord with all his heart, but loves and respects you. If we could learn to respect ourselves, to see ourselves as beloved and cherished. And learn to step into God's plan for our life, and not just run for instant gratification in the world, our hearts would have a lot less stitches and band aides on them. Luckily God is a pretty handy doctor for hearts. ;-)

So sit tight, enjoy being in love with the Lord. Having Him be your Prince. Do not settle. Make a list of what you want in a future husband or wife, do no make any exceptions. No toad princes. God's timing is always the best.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord.
"Plans of good and not for evil, plans to give you a future and a hope."

Loving through His love,
Naomi-June

Sticks and stones

So today I have been really praying about the power of my words. How much of an impact they can have on others. How much other's words have an impact on me. It is amazing how one little comment can turn around a friendship, how one compliment can make you crave more, how one little sarcastic remark can make you shrivel and hurt. The impact they carry.
There is a quote that says "The words spoken back to us are echo's of what we speak". That really hit me hard, the way people speak to me is generally a reflection of the way I speak to them.

Then, of course my mind ran away and left my feet dragging, what if I spoke with the authority of Christ? What if I spoke with a voice that could move mountains, instead of constantly speaking on my own petty things. If I spoke the very words Jesus would speak. If I was not only His hands and feet, but his very words.

Think before you speak. Speak words of Godly encouragement and love. Speak the very words Jesus would say. Be His translator.

Love through His love.
Naomi-June

The man in the mirror

Genesis 1:27
"He created them, man and female. He created them in His likeness."

Can we as humans even comprehend what that means? We are created in the image of a flawless God. Each person you see, every time you lock eyes with someone, driving, shopping, at church, at school. You are walking around witnessing the hand crafted art work of God.
Yet as humans we have the wonderful habit of looking at that reflection, those brothers and sisters, perfecting them, replacing features with what we believe would make them more appealing to our human eye.
I cannot imagine the heart break of God. The time, love and care He put into perfectly forming us. But how easy is it for us too look at our images and choose every "flaw" we have. Who makes these things flaws, who decided tall dark and handsome was the perfect guy, or blond tan and curvy was the ideal woman. How often we forget the beautiful uniqueness we carry. The image and hand crafted work of God.

So next time you look in the mirror remember. That is TRUE beauty, the reflection of God.
Loving through His love.
Naomi-June

Direct flight or lay over?

It is funny how we have these ideas of our perfect day, perfect future, perfect plan. We often run to God asking for him to fulfill His plans, to grant us our wishes. But we have given him so many guidelines do's and don'ts to every little thing. We've taken the map of our life from God, yet we are asking him for directions. We talk to Him as if he has failed us, when really we never wanted His help from the beginging. we have gone in with our own agenda. Really just wanted our idea of "perfection"

So here's my question, do we REALLY want Gods plan? Our our plan with His name on it?

"So here I am one more day. Not loving Him the way He asked. In fact my heart is singing praises to the things that make me feel alright. So I am sinking fast like a stone heart should, and on the way down I've done what I could to try and try and try to turn this stone heart flesh. I'm haunted by my God who has the right to ask me but why my nature of my rebellion I cannot breathe. So I beg for you to move, I beg for you to break through. So here I am got my deeds for the day. All my cute little words about how I am saved. Am I saved? Could I love you with my mouth like a church kid should. At the end of the day my words get burned as wood. Oh but I was good. I beg for you to move. "

- Beg (by Shane and Shane)

Loving through His love,

Naomi-June Fowler