Is He Enough?

When I look at certain things in my life, sometimes it feels like they are enough. I mean, when people tell me that I am wonderful, it makes me feel amazing. The career that I am planning for, its pretty exciting. I know I am going to love what I will do, that has got to be enough! Now you want to talk about boys? Well, that is simple, I will get married one day and we will live happily ever after. This stuff will make me happy, right?

Sometimes I try to convince myself they are enough. That they satisfy me and make me happy. There are days when I believe that I can keep living like all of those things will get me through this life. A life where children are starving and being beaten. A life where people go to bed hungry at night, in most parts of the world at least. I live in a world where women are seen as objects and are sold like antiques to be displayed. How can those things be enough when so many people in the world are without them?

Could He be enough for the broken and the oppressed? Could He be enough for me and for them? I think about the destiny we all have. Because we have fallen short of the glory of God through our sin, we deserve to be punished. We deserve hell. Grace, has been shown to us. I needed to be saved and Christ has stood in my place. God loves us and does not treat us as though we deserve his wrath any longer. Still not sure if he is enough?

God has sustained me time and time again. When my faith was weak, he showed me true faith. When my eyes were blind, he opened them and when my heart was dark, he brought light to it. When I thought I had no hope and that this world was too much for me to handle, He reminded me that He is my hope and the world is not too much for Him.

Could he possibly be better than anything I could dream up? Could he be better than rain? Could he be better than love? He never changes and promises to never leave me. Could he be better than guys? Perhaps better than receiving compliments and pleasing people? Could he be better than sunsets or gold? Or chocolate mousse? Could the sun be shining for him? Could he be the mastermind behind spring, summer, fall and winter? Could he hold me in his arms even when he feels far away? He has and he always will.

He is the blood that flows through my veins. The tears that fall down my face. He is the wind I feel through my hair. God is my everything. I was created to know him.

He’s Always Enough,
Liberty

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Pretty is. Beauty does.

Pretty is. Beauty does. I heard this on a commercial recently and began to think about this. I mean, what could it possibly mean? Every girl wants to be pretty. We want to feel pretty and be told we are. But what about this thing called beauty? What could that be about? I hate to break it to some of you, but its not just about a girl who loves to read and ends up in a mansion with a harry beast, its much, much more! Lucky for us, we are to be called beauty too.

Recently, I was having lunch with some friends and we were talking about relationships. I confessed that I struggled with my definition of beauty. I feel as though I don’t have anything to bring to the table of marriage. I mean, what will I be able to offer my husband one day? I can’t really cook, neither do I care to honestly. I’m not very intellectual. I can’t talk on various subjects and don’t have profound knowledge on very much. I don’t always please everyone. I don’t always wear the right thing or show up at the right time. I certainly never say the right thing or respond the right way. So what could possibly be beautiful about me? Seriously. As my confession came to a close, I expressed what I am passionate about; however cliche it may be. Its the truth. I love people. I love holding orphans in Africa. I love loving people. I love caring for and helping people. I love being there for people. I love my family. There is nothing I love more than holding babies, any babies! But that’s all I have going for me and that’s my heart. My friends began to laugh as they looked at me puzzled. They obviously knew something I didn’t.

You see, I was looking at my strength as a weakness. I was forgetting the fact that I have loved. This then reminded us of what 1 Corinthians 13 says: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I gave away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

I realized the Bible says something quite differently about the beauty I possess. My friends also helped me realize that the very essence of my beauty is incredible. In fact, these verses greatly encourage what my heart longs for. The beauty the world asks of me is meaningless, its beauty that chases after the wind. What I gained from all of this? Who gives a rats rear that I can’t tell time backwards, recite the constitution or make French cuisine. According to Corinthians, if I have not loved, I am nothing. As a matter of fact, I’m not content with being nothing. I would rather love while I can. And that my dear reader, is my beauty. So whether my hair looks a hot mess tomorrow, my clothes don’t match or I don’t end up eating that great of a breakfast due to my lack of skill; I know that beauty is defined differently for each of us, because its defined by beauty itself.

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A Beautiful Thought

For the first time in my life I saw my parents exemplify, “For better or for worse.” For the first time, I understand what it means to be with someone through the beautiful and ugly, the nice and the bad. Especially the hurt and lonely times. The joyful and the exciting times. For the first time, I understand a little more about what Christ did for me. For the first time I know what I want my own marriage to be like one day. For the first time, I know that I can’t know a deeper love unless I know my heavenly Father’s love. God knows I desire to serve him all the days of my life. But do I realize that also means the man I fall in love with one day. The one I will give the rest of my life to serve. The man I will follow. The man I will promise, “For better or for worse.” What does it mean to lay down your life for her, just as Christ laid down his life for us? What does that practically look like? How can you be sure she loves you for better or for worse? How will you love him when he isn’t loving you back?

Let me explain. This past weekend my dad began having back pain. It was so bad, that he decided to go to the doctor Monday morning. He went and had an ultra sound which came up with no results. They then sent him in for a cat scan and still found nothing. A few days later we got a call saying that my dad had two kidney stones.
Now, i work, I’m taking five classes. I tend to have a social life. Other times I can be selfish with my free time. I have different things that I am struggling with right now; But while I was dealing with all the things surrounding my life. My mom was spilling out, “For better or for worse,” throughout her day. She was helping my dad walk, she sat by his side and kept him company. She made him breakfast and took it upstairs to him. She eagerly took up his responsibilities. She did what she had to do. She did all she had to do with a smile and a positive attitude. I want to be that type of women. You know, the woman Proverbs 31 describes as:

-Far more precious than rubies
-Trustworthy
-Gets up early and is not lazy with her time
-Strength shown brightly through her life
-She never gives up
-Has time for her family and others as well
-Not stressed about the future
-Speaks when it is appropriate and says only things that honor God
-Others are blessed by her
-Her inner beauty is what shines through, she doesn’t have to hide behind make up

So there it is, a lesson worth learning.

He is always enough,
Liberty Stripped of her Pride

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To Every Guy:

If you care about a girl in a special way, tell her! Because one day she might not be there to listen. Neither of you will live forever. She might move across the country, find another passion to occupy her mind or give up on you.

Life is too short not to tell the truth to someone you deeply care about. She doesn’t have to be the center of your world. She’s not suppose to be. Just let her know she’s a part of it. Don’t waste time. She’d be crazy to not want to know how you feel. Man up.

Tell her if you aren’t ready and if she has any sense, she’ll wait till you both are. She should know you aren’t her Salvation. Feel free to tell her in a big way with a banner across the sky or a small way like whispering it in her ear..

And just maybe, Lord willing, something beautiful will come from you opening your heart and pursuing her. I dare you.

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My Prince Charming?

I want a Job 29 man. Why? Let me tell you something. But first, go read Job 29 when you get the chance.

Now, why do I want to spend the rest of my life with a Job 29 man. Because he is admirable. He is proactive, not lazy or ill-mannered. He is responsible. He’s respected by all. Nothing but kind words come from his mouth. People call him blessed. He reaches his arms far and wide to those who need to be loved. He serves as eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. His heart has wholly been stolen by Christ. He is friendly to strangers and pursues relationships. He is strong in stature and in faith. Wisdom walks with him and others know this. He lives for nothing but to bring glory to God. He encourages others and sees the need for encouragement when one has no hope left. Children look up to him and he brings laughter to their hearts. He longs for God’s presence. He has faith that God holds all things in his hands. He desires his heart to be changed through God’s word. He is genuine with God and with people. He is honored, even by those older than he is. He denies himself so that Christ may become greater in his life. He turns the other cheek. If someone robs him of his shoes, he offers his shirt as well. He delights in the worship of his creator and worships as if he’s been waiting his whole life for such a moment. He is not prideful. He does not judge others. He is aware of his need for a Savior. He’s looking for a Proverbs 31 woman. He cares about my heart and the beauty that encompasses it. He is patiently waiting for what the Lord wants to give him. He believes in true love. He is a hard worker. He knows that nothing can be done in his own strength. He lives everyday walking in humility and by faith. I want him to love God more than he loves me. I want this man because I know he will lead me, love me, serve me, cherish me and honor me. I want this man because his biggest passion is to love the Lord with all his heart.

So there you go. That is the kind of man I am looking for. That is the kind of man God hopes for me. That is the kind of man I will wait for, and I will not settle for anything less. Now, are my standards too high? I don’t think so, after all, I have to live in such a way to honor this man. So with that being said, his standards should be just as high for me. Hope this inspires you.

Salutations,

Liberty Stripped of her Pride

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