I would encourage you to not give yourself to every dating opportunity that presents itself to you. Many times, we can get into a cycle of dating and breaking up that is in reality doing nothing for us but breaking our hearts and helping us practice divorce before we ever get married. I’m not saying don’t ever date; I’m saying date purposefully. Don’t give yourself to a man who draws your heart away from the Lord. Give yourself to the Lord and pray for the Lord to prepare your heart for your future marriage and spouse, so that when you do start really looking for that life partner, you can experience the thrill of falling in love under the blessing of God.
True love?
Have I found true love? Yes. But not in the form you might think. You see, as amazing and wonderful as my wife is, she does not satisfy the deepest longing of my heart for love. Nor do I satisfy hers, even though she tells me I’m the sweetest and most attractive man on earth. Ephesians 5:31-32 tells us that the mystery of a man leaving his mother and father and becoming one flesh with his wife is actually a picture of the relationship between Jesus and His people. At the core of who Jesus is, He is a Groom looking for a Bride. Girls, and yes, boys, are a part of this Bride. My wife does not have the ability to meet the deep longings of my heart; only God does. This is love in its truest sense.
~*~
Joshua Taylor and his wife Sarah live in south Kansas City, MO, and serve at the International House of Prayer Missions Base (IHOP-KC). The two have been married since June 2012, and enjoy spending time in the place of prayer, going on date nights, and being outside in the sunshine. Joshua will graduate from IHOP-KC's University in 2015, while Sarah is currently serving on full-time staff at the base. The two share a passion for seeing the Church come into maturity in love for Jesus and for the fame of His name to go forth in the nations.
Forever Changed
by Kylie Delaine
20
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
"They lied when they told us that you meet your prince and it's "Happily Ever After," because finding the right guy is not a means to an end. It's only a chapter in this book called our lives, complete with the good days and the bad days and everything in-between. If finding the right guy and getting married are our only goals, we miss so much that the Lord has for us. I'm finding that out day by day, it's about falling in love with the person for all they truly are. Which includes the good, the bad, and the ugly, because on our own, none of us will ever be the "perfect couple." Our love stories are only beautiful because the Creator of the Universe is writing them, and EVERYTHING He does is PERFECT and AMAZING. "
- Kylie
“She remembers the nights he’d come calling, his yellow-silk tie. In love, she saw him falling for her in the fire of July. Then one day as the nights grew longer, blackberry winter in a little white church stood a young pretty bride. Forever changed, forever changed. Nothing ever stays the same. Forever named, forever changed.” – Carrie Underwood
It was late and I should have been off to dreamland hours ago, but I could not find rest. My mind was racing, my thoughts were running all over the place. So much had happened in the past few days, it was hard to comprehend it all. I had removed my engagement ring before I laid down that night to make sure nothing happened to it, but as I sat there in my bed, sleep escaping me, I pulled it out and put it back on my finger. I admired it, I turned the music in headphones on, and “Forever Changed” by Carrie Underwood came into the play list. It’s one of my favorite songs, because it reminds me of my Grandma Darlene and Grandpa Jimmy so very much. Because, his favorite color really was yellow and she actually was a winter bride.
I looked down at my engagement ring, the one I had searched and searched for with Sean – not because it was the perfect ring, but because I wanted one that looked similar to Grandma's. Sure, it was simple and elegant.