Memories from my Bible...

Today I started doing my homework for the Beth Moore bible study "stepping up" which I started doing with a bunch of girls from church. If you don't know much about the study, it focuses on the Psalms, particularly the Psalms of ascent (Psalms 120-134). As I was doing my homework I came across a bunch of verses that I had highlighted or underlined earlier in my life, and I thought it was fun to re-read them to remind myself where I was at that time in my life, and what those verses had really said to me... I have a pretty good memory, so that is why I know specific situations that I was in the midst of when a particular verse spoke to me, and When I came across Psalms 27: 14, I was reminded of the time in my life right before I started dating my husband. This is the verse:

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

AUGUST 2004

It was the summer after I had graduated from high school. I had been dating someone for two years and that summer we broke up. It had been my first "serious" dating relationship and when you are in high school 2 years is a BIG deal!! Needless to say I had had my heart broken. I remember feeling so sad, depressed, and lonely thinking I was never going to be able to meet someone and fall in love.... One day in my quiet time I came across the verse and I started to feel at peace. The verse spoke DIRECTLY to me! I felt as if the Lord had written it and placed it right there just for ME! He was telling me "Don't worry, I love you and want the best for you. I know you are hurting now, but something greater will come of this--I promise." And we know he will never break a promise!!! That verse meant so much to me at the time so I wrote it down on a heart shaped piece of paper and stuck it to my mirror so I could be reminded of it every morning.

FAST FORWARD ABOUT ONE MONTH FROM THE BREAK-UP (SEPTEMBER 2004)

I had started college and my life was changing. I was so busy I barely had time to even think about a new "love interest." A few of my friends had joined a traveling singing group and they were scheduled to come home for a week. My friend Jake was one of the people on the group and a lot of the activities of the week were held at his house so I spent a few nights hanging out there. (I say friend because anyone who knows the relationship I have with Jake--it's been more like brother and sister because of the way we fought all the time throughout school!!) One night at his house he came up to me and said, "My mom and I have been talking and we really think you should go on a date with my brother!" I was shocked... I automatically shot it off because #1 I had barely ever spoken to him, #2 I think he and my sister may have gone out to lunch a couple of times, #3 He was older than me by 2 1/2 years, excuse after excuse... however as the week went on I started to see him in a different light... Oh yeah and not to mention I thought he was GORGEOUS!!!!

Although things didn't go smoothly--we went out a few times but then took a hiatus-- in December of that year (mind you the "heartbreak" had happened in August of that year) We finally became serious about pursuing a relationship with each other...

6 MONTHS LATER (JULY 2005)

He PROPOSED!!!!! (I said yes of course!!)

1 YEAR AFTER THAT (JULY 8, 2006)

I Married my best friend!!!

22 MONTHS AFTER THAT

We became parents to the most precious gift from God, our son Cayden!

And there you have it. God kept his promise to me like he always does. I knew the verse said "wait" but I didnt know how long I would have to wait... I am so thankful that he didn't make me wait very long!!! Well I just wanted to share that because I thought it was fun, and amazing how, although the words of the Bible never change, it sometimes feels like it was custom written just for me!!!

Do any of you have a fun story like that? I encourage you to look through your bible to see a verse that you have underlined and see if you can remember where in your life that verse really spoke to you and share it!! It is amazing!!!

Until next post,