Isaiah 65:24

I don't know where to post this but might as well post it in both blogs. But since I want to glorify GOD, I'll post it here, too.

GOD truly answers prayers. Even prayers you do not offer to HIM. Your heart's desires.

HE knows what you need before you say it. HE knows the answer to your question before you ask it.

Isaiah 65:24
Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.

Last night, I asked but there was only one specific prayer which is silent. I asked what I should do about a problem I've had yesterday. I kept on telling myself that I should be strong and stern this time. When GOD begins to speak, truly, I couldn't ignore and not obey.

First, I received 2 text messages from the same person who is my friend for 10 years now, Julie Ann...

"Never think that GOD's delays are GOD's denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius." ~This was what GOD revealed to my heart because of a certain thing I've been waiting to happen this year.

"GOD has HIS own way of making you smile especially at times when you wanna give up and lose hope. Certain surprises come your way that make you rise and keep on going." ~This is a revelation to a complication Cody and I was having this week. It is in a romantic kind of love that you experience the extremes of everything because you are dealing with your helper that GOD has given you and a tangible partner that GOD reserved for you. BUT there are no perfect relationships even for Christians. I must admit that Cody is my first earthly love. I feel the extremes with HIM. And I must also admit that because of some differences, sometimes I'd want to give up (which both of us sternly believe should never happen). GOD uses these kinds of relationships to make you stronger emotionally and spiritually. And it is in relationships like these that you learn more in life. Amazingly, GOD wants this relationship. With my ever silent prayers, HE answered them with surprises.

So after I received this text message, I asked GOD what surprises.

Here are my surprises...

I overheard my mom reading this with my dad. The published "Our Daily Bread" for 2009 here has this as its January 10, 2009 article. I will only share what struck me from this article:

Are any of your relationships broken or estranged because of something you said or did? Take the initiative. Go now and do all you can to be reconciled. — Marvin Williams

At the heart of all conflict is a selfish heart.

Then I decided to read my new book. Now, I must say the chapters I've read are the exact answers I needed for my relationship with Cody. Here is one of the lines that helped me with my pondering for days now...

"The miracle that brought you and your soul mate together is the best place I know to start. Once a year, why not give it a night all its own. To look back in wonder." ~Nancy Shulins

~This was a follow-up to what our pastor preached last Thursday saying that when you and your partner are having problems/trials, you must always try to remember together the beautiful memories in your relationship and the first time you met.

It also tackled about differences and about understanding. I was just really amazed that GOD will use that book. So helpful. I do not really confide to other people because I want GOD to be my first bestfriend and Cody my second bestfriend. But of course, I have accountability partners, too, who are some of my trusted friends and my family. Cody and I are good to go again. GOD is our center. Both of us know that we have grown in our character because with all humility, we accepted the fact that GOD gave us each other to grow emotionally and spiritually. A year of long-distance relationship (7,921 miles) being patient and faithful can attest to that. Communication and forgiveness is very important. Accepting the rebukes and confronting with so much love. Sometimes, not even a faithful friend can rebuke the deepest part of you. GOD uses the most tangible and closest partner you'll have. That is why some call them soulmate and better/other half. Not that you are incomplete but because you are so complete with GOD that HE gives you a bonus. A beautiful incomparable gift from our FATHER.

I was also blessed with Worship Service earlier that it overwhelmed my heart for GOD, Cody and others. I will share the sermon later. I went home alone but filled with so much love and hope for a brighter future. I can feel the spiritual breakthrough and I desire more. I am so blessed that I can feel the spiritual and financial breakthrough even personally right here, right now. I believe that the Holy Spirit is not only in a church building, church meetings, revivals, concerts and such. It is also in you when you are alone grieving for a lost loved one, praying for a soul mate, angry at a friend, abused by your parent, full of problems or just happily in love with someone. I have been won by GOD here in my room and HE continuously transforms me into the woman HE wants me to be here in my room, as well. BUT, of course, GOD wants us to have fellowship with others which I highly suggest. hehehe! GOD uses other people to as HIS instruments to encourage and love you. HE just needs a willing heart because HE doesn't force us to love and obey HIM. HE loves and respects us that much.

OH oh oh...I must add an article from one of my favorite couples. Certainly, A Cody-Honesty situation but I guess I don't burst that much. I mostly stay silent. And I mean silent. hehehe!

My Wonderful Day (Part Two) by Barbara Rainey

Colossians 3:12,13
Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility...bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone.

That did it. "Priorities! How do you prioritize a busted washer and a sick child? How am I supposed to prioritize workmen who keep the house in a state of total disaster all day before I'm leaving? Here I try to get everything right so we don't have to come home to chaos, and you talk about setting priorities!"

Dennis was stunned. His dependable, loving, normally unflappable wife had flipped! The rest of the trip was spent in near silence.

At that point we had a choice: We could resolve our conflict and save the trip, or we could let our anger simmer.

So after we had arrived and unpacked, I told Dennis I was sorry for getting angry. And he hugged me and said, "Honey, I'm sorry I said what I said. I wasn't being very sensitive. You do a great job of keeping everything straight and getting us ready. I hate it when we're at odds with each other."

These are just some parts of the article. Cody always give choices like this but differently worded, of course: We could resolve our conflict or we could let our anger simmer.

I thank GOD for letting me grow in character through the people HE is using in my life right now. I thank Cody for the heart he has for GOD.

ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

P.U.S.H.

GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO IF'S, NO AND'S, NO BUT'S!

Make an impact. Make a difference. Make a ripple. Tip the scale.

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!

Image © Cody Lee Howe

I Have You

JESUS CHRIST is my LORD and SAVIOR but HE made love tangible through my Cody.

I truly am blessed to have a fiance that's super patient and faithful to me inspite of the distance. We may have complications at times but then GOD is faithful. GOD wants this relationship til eternity. There is no perfect marriage out there even Christian marriages have their own ups and downs. I was wondering last night why Cody and I have been experiencing complications even when we're a Christian couple.

Truly amazing coz last yesterday I alloted some time to pray for this relationship but mainly for Cody. I prayed for myself but mostly about Cody. Can you believe that GOD will answer my question through Cody? Well, I've deleted that message but he said that GOD is dealing with us while we're away from each other and that GOD has been giving us dealings now so that we'll be a stronger couple when we're married.

It was overwhelming when he woke up and told me things I never expected he would say because we were experiencing a complication. Cody told me that he prayed when he woke up. These are some of the few messages in our conversation last night that took my breath away.

"just know that i love you and still desire only you. i prayed about that this morning"

"well i know both of us want to be happy with each other. there could be far worse things in our lives compared to the complications we experience. i can still see growth through our complications. but, of course, we should be growing past certain complications. that's gonna be up to our discernment and maturity. communication is important"

"i prayed for the wisdom and patience to continue communicating with you so we can get past complications. that i can feel you're the one for me and i'm not looking for a way out of this relationship. that i'd rather repair what we have"

"not many Christians have an 8000 mile relationship"

"i know i feel hurt and sad at times in this relationship, but the unique love i feel for you always overpowers that. i'm thankful for that realization"

"but we can get past that. we won't let that be the downfall of this relationship. we can overcome"

"i need you, too. i want to be a helping partner for you. i want you to feel safe and secure when confiding in me. i don't want to ignore you. i want to help"

"i see hostility and rude remarks in a relationship next door so i have a clear demonstration of how NOT to act towards you. i never want us to be like that and i believe we never will. that's why we go through the pains now"

"i admire the perseverance of this relationship"

"btw, i don't want to disagree with you. i love when we can agree with each other and be a team like that"

"and if that wisdom is only able to be used in this relationship, i'd still feel fulfilled"

"yes, we owe it all to Him"

"i love you with all of me and i miss you"

I am so thankful that inspite of the hardships in this long-distance relatioship, GOD still wants this relationship. We may have a different situation and different circumstances with other couples but I know that GOD is the center of this and GOD is molding us into the couple that HE wants us to be. I am also thankful because honestly, Cody and I have matured together and it has been a year and we're going stronger as a couple of GOD. I am grateful that GOD has given Cody the patience, faithfulness and wisdom because I believe that all of those things only come from GOD. Apart from GOD, we are nothing.

Before I met Cody, the only prayer I've had in having a partner is to glorify GOD alone through the relationship. I really hope that this relationship is really glorifying GOD alone because HE is the one who brought us together and who is binding us forever - stronger than ever.

"Love is what you have been through with somebody." ~Nancy Shulins

Eversince I've had Cody as my boyfriend, I have never seen my future with another man anymore. I've never told myself, "What if I break up with him, will I meet someone better?" because I know that he is the only perfect partner GOD has reserved for me.

Of course, you don't know what we're going through. hehehe! But then it is enough to know that GOD is so good and if HE gives you HIS Perfect Will, HE will do everything to keep you both together as a couple. How do I know? Well, I first confide in GOD then in Cody. GOD gives the revelations and wisdom in handling this relationship. If GOD is my first bestfriend, Cody is my second bestfriend.

Cody, you are my one-and-only lifetime partner. GOD is so good for providing me a man who will stand by me through thick and thin. And I believe that HE will provide more for us as a couple because HE created and planned this relationship beautifully. I love you with all of me!

FATHER, YOU ARE OUR FIRST LOVE! THIS BLOG IS MADE FOR YOUR GLORY ALONE!

Really, ALL THE GLORY IN THIS RELATIONSHIP BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY! GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU - NO IF'S, NO AND'S, NO BUT'S!

P.U.S.H.

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!