LOVE feature
Story by Ashley Elvington • Photography by Laura McBryde
“PERHAPS THE
GREATEST LESSON
LEARNED OF ALL,
THOUGH, IS HOW TO
love each other
IN THE PUREST, REALEST
FORM - THE WAY
CHRIST LOVES US.”
KEEPING GOD AT THE FOREFRONT of their relationship
is the key to their success. Samantha elaborates, “Seventy percent of
first time marriages end in divorce and the majority of that percentage is
because of the lack of God at the center. The love of God resolves wonders.
I believe that every issue we have is, at the root, a proximity issue. Proximity
to the Father fixes everything.” It’s also important to constantly evolve in the
relationship - not to the ways of society, but God’s way. Nathan explains,
“Our relationship is ever growing... Growing in God, growing in each other,
and growing in life. Much of that is due to the guidance of the leaders of our
church. We believe that by submitting our relationship to people who we
love, know, and that we trust are in a day-in and day-out pursuit of Jesus,
will provide a realm of protection and guidance to further our relationship
at the most God ordained time.” For now, Samantha and Nathan are enjoying their time together. “I love being able to go after God right next to him.”
While they’re unsure as to whether they believe in soul mates, each is
helping the other in their walk with Christ. “Her life inspires me to be the
best man I can be due to seeing her being the best woman she can be. Sam
pushes me in all areas of life, because she pushes herself in all areas of
life. When you’re with someone who is going after God with all they have,
you don’t have a choice but to learn how to go after God with all you have,
if you want the relationship to work. That’s what being evenly yoked is to run after God as fast as you can, look next to you, and see who is running beside you. For me, that person was Sam!” She adds, “Seeing how he
submits his pride, his anxiousness, his entitlement or whatever God is revealing to him, drives me to want to go deeper. He pushes me when things
are less than ideal to keep God at the center of my attention. He pushes me
to not be okay with only giving Jesus 50% of my life or even 99%, but 100%.
By watching how he goes after the Lord, hunger in me grows to know more
of God. I’m honored to get to know and watch his relationship with the Lord
develop.”
Samantha anticipates seeing the changes God will continue to make within them, both individually and together ,
as they maintain their commitment. “Nathan has given me renewed appreciation for my family, my life, people,
and God’s hand in everything. He has taught me how to love myself with God’s vision and not the world’s. He has
taught me to not live a selfish lifestyle or have a selfish mindset because you will miss out on so much. One thing
we both learned from each other, and are still learning, is patience. Patience in the process, patience in each other,
and patience in the Lord’s timing.” Perhaps the greatest lesson learned of all, though, is how to love each other in
the purest, realest form - the way Christ loves us. “The Father has taught me the true definition of love. 1 John 4:10
states, ‘This is real love - not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away
our sins.’ It truly overwhelms me to think about how a Father sent His Son to be murdered all because He loved me
and wanted a real relationship with me, when really I was the one who helped murder His Son. That’s true love.
That’s perfect love. Don’t give me wrong, Sam has taught me so much! She has the purest heart of anyone I know.
Her eyes carry care. Therefore, if I rid myself of my pride, then every time we are together she will teach me
something. She teaches me every day how to include Jesus in all I do and love Him with all that I am, which in return
teaches me how to receive love from the Father. Most recently, she’s been teaching me how to be more open to the
Holy Spirit. The best thing about it, though? Sam teaches me all of these things without ‘teaching’ me anything.
I get to watch her lifestyle. And because her heart is to simply please Jesus in all she does, her just being her is better
than any classroom I have ever been in.”
Samantha Weisbeck, daughter of Chad and Silvia Weisbeck (of Florence), resides in Batesburg, South Carolina. She has one sister, Savanna, and is a nanny for three children.
Nathan Poe, son of Joe and Angela Poe, resides in Batesburg, South Carolina. He has two siblings, Ashley and Adam, and is a waiter at California Dreaming.
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FEBUARY 2016
SHEMAGAZINE.COM