Plan and Hope

I love giving you updates and lessons I've been learning! hehehe!

Let's tackle PLAN first. I know GOD will provide everything for us although it is but wise to plan ahead according to HIS Will. GOD loves people who knows how to plan because it shows willingness and being a responsible human being.

Luke 14:28-30
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

While I was still attending my culinary classes, I was always sleeping at my aunt's house. I saw a magazine sitting there in the living room and it was about weddings. It stated these verses in there. Never did it leave my mind then. I've always applied it in all aspects of my life. While Cody and I was talking earlier, he told me his plans for us. He told me about the plan he has for our house in the near future. He proposed it to his parents. Basically, he shares his plans with his parents and ask their advices. I am even humbled when his mom messaged me earlier and how she's welcoming me into their family. Also, Cody told me that his mom assured how serious Cody is with me. I am very humbled with how his mom protects me as a woman. Yes, we're already in the practical planning stage. Every girl dreams of her wedding, of course. But we're still praying for something and after that we're on to the wedding plans (I guess hahaha). It is not about the wedding anyway but the marriage. Our target is before this year ends. Before my birthday. hehehe!

James 4:15
Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

Proverbs 16:1
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

BUT before anything else, we know that all our plans will not succeed if it is not according to GOD's Will so we can plan as much but everything will be made possible by GOD. One of the most outstanding answered prayer with a yes is when Cody visited here last year. That was when I chose to pray for it every hour of everyday before he bought his plane ticket.

noble - possessing eminence, elevation, dignity

Isaiah 32:8
But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.

GOD has promised this so I am standing by this. All I wanted is to glorify GOD through our relationship.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

We can plan all we want but all I know is that GOD's Perfect Will should be done in us. Sometimes I do not petition anything in my prayers because GOD knows my heart's desires so I just simply say, "Let Your Will be done, FATHER." And by that, my heart trusts in the LORD. If HE will not do what I desire, HE will give me something better than that. That is what HE has instilled in my heart.

Now, let's go to HOPE. I've read an article about expecting. When we expect something from people, we tend to get disappointed so my expectations is all for GOD. More than expecting though, I hope. I believe that hope is heavier than expectation. GOD gave me a revelation earlier at service. We have a guest speaker earlier named Reverend Paul Wrenn. GOD truly used him to speak to my heart today. Here is one of what he shared to us...

hope - certain something will happen but has not happened yet

Cody and I got revelations and here are some...

Isaiah 49:23
"...those who hope in me will not be disappointed."

Hebrews 11:26
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

The sun withholds his generous beam;
Athwart my soul the shadows stream;
The weird winds boisterously blow,
And drift the melancholy snow.
When I, in sorrow and despair,
Expect the storm, with tender care
He rends the clouds and through the blue
The glorious sun breaks forth anew.
--M. B. S.

So with the wan waste grasses on my spear,
I ride forever seeking after God.
My hair grows whiter than my thistle plume
And all my limbs are loose; but in my eyes
The star of an unconquerable praise;
For in my soul one hope forever sings,
That at the next white corner of the road
My eyes may look on Him.
--G. K. Chesterton.

Loving Father, if I may be discouraged to-day, strengthen my faith. May I not weary of waiting for thee, but trust in thy promises. Amen.

These quotes and prayer came from Christianity.com: Leaves of Life by Margaret Bird Steinmetz.

And just like what our pastor preached to us the other week, if there is recession, there is also an increase if we only know the keys to having these promises fulfilled. By HIS plans, and that's just the way it is. HE IS GOD ALONE! And I can only trust in our GOD! OUR GOD WHO MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE!

I thank our beautiful GOD for my beautiful Cody. A handsome man inside and out. A man of GOD. A man who truly fears the LORD is what we need in our lives, ladies. If you think you might run out of guys, think again. GOD has already prepared that perfect guy for you. ONLY BELIEVE.

Today is Cody's birthday so kindly greet him. hehehe!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY ONE-AND-ONLY FOREVER CODY! A GODLY FUTURE WE ARE HOPING FOR FULL OF GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE.

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

ALL THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD ALONE!!!

P.U.S.H.

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

When you feel GOD's love, OVERFLOW!

Marriage is of GOD

by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

To Mirror God's Image

Genesis 1:27
And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Hanging in my mother's bedroom is a photograph of the Grand Teton Mountains. I gave her that 8x10-inch enlargement after photographing the Tetons from the edge of Jenny Lake.

The morning I took that picture, Jenny Lake was like a mirror. If you take the photo and turn it upside down you can't tell which mountains are real and which are a reflection.

When I look at that picture, I think of God's first purpose for marriage: to mirror His image. To "mirror" God means to reflect Him; to magnify, exalt and glorify Him. A successful marriage between two committed Christians provides a tangible model of God's love to a world that desperately needs to see who He is.

Because we're created in the image of God, people who wouldn't otherwise know what God is like should be able to look at us and get a glimpse of Him. People are never more like God than when they love one another and remain committed to each other despite their flaws.

But what happens if you toss a stone into that perfect reflection? My good friend and colleague Dave Sunde told me he once visited Jenny Lake on that same kind of clear, still day. He watched a boy skip a small stone across the placid water and immediately the perfect reflection of the mountains was distorted. God's image, His reflection, is distorted when a husband or wife allows sin to enter his or her life or relationship. Your marriage represents God; protect it from the "stones"-the sin-that will distort His image.

Prayer:
That God will help you keep your "mirror" polished and clear, so His image will be reflected in the way your family lives.

Discuss: When people look at your marriage, how do they see an example of God's love? What would people learn about God from your marriage?

This is one of my favorites (my email devotional tonight). Well, all the articles of this couple. hehehe! I am just so overwhelmed on how GOD is blessing me in all aspects of my life especially in having a comparable helper and lifetime partner in the faith.

Before I read this, I was already thinking of Cody. While I was reading this, I was still thinking of him. And a beautiful realization dawned on me.

Earlier while Cody and I were chatting online, he told me that we truly have a special relationship because we think of marrying each other even when we only had 2 weeks of being together physically. A year of friendship. Our relationship as a couple will celebrate its first year soon.

I also remember someone say that real love is thinking of marriage with a person you say that you love (romantic love, of course). Love is a lifetime commitment. You can't jump from one partner to another trying to find which one is better but always bringing out the best out of each other (with only one partner for life) with the complete guidance of GOD. You just don't give up when you feel like it. I've learned that in a year with Cody. Of course, we got the BIGGEST help from our FATHER.

I am so ecstatic to know that our relationship is grounded on GOD. Never in my mind have occurred that I will ever have a relationship like this. I am so humbled to inform you that never once, not even a hint, Cody ever gave up on me. He never even told me that. He always wants to work things out. Inspite of our differences, he makes a way for my passion to be his passion, as well. To consider the things that I like that he didn't like before. hehehe! I am just blushing right now thinking that a guy would do that for me. Also, I am just astonished that after a year of this long distance relationship with just 2 weeks of being together, Cody remains faithful. And that is because he is faithful to our GOD. IT IS ALL GOD!

As I always say, marriage is a good thing but no marriage in this world is perfect. Every marriage has its own flaws. It only takes one GOD to make things right. Right in HIS eyes. I still believe in a marriage that GOD created. Every marriage is HIS. GOD is only waiting for you to ask for HIS help. Complete submission. If you can submit to GOD, you can also submit to your spouse in a way that is pleasing to the LORD.

And yes...we are certainly getting there...I only see myself walking in that aisle while Cody is waiting for me at the altar. The altar of GOD.

And above it all, my first desire in our unity as a couple is to glorify GOD alone. To let other people know that with GOD, nothing is impossible. We have yet to see the beauty of our future together that will unravel amazingly in our very eyes with all of GOD's eternal love, amazing grace, neverending faithfulness and mighty power.

How about you? Do you ever want to glorify GOD in your marriage? Think about it. I won't force you to do it. Neither GOD.

But remember: With GOD, everything is POSSIBLE!

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

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

GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS/MARRIAGES! 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!