I have been writing in journals most of my life. I like to write down what I’m learning, what is happening, what feels important to me, what I am thankful for, and prayers. I also like to write cards, notes, and emails of encouragement. I like to write and share about what God is teaching me, how He is working and moving in my life. And now I feel compelled to share my thoughts, experiences, and insights in a blog for whoever stumbles across them in hopes that they will be inspired to keep going, keep hoping in and seeking our Good God. May you glean from these ramblings what you need.

My husband, Dean, and I are getting ready to host/lead a book discussion of the marriage book Love and Respect in a couple weeks. Preparing for this has caused me to think back on what I consider the first significant life transformation God did in me.

Back in the early 2000’s, I can’t remember exactly what year, we’ll say 2003 just for fun, Dean and I had been married for six years. I was a stay at home mom to three little boys (ages 3, 2, and 1). Dean was a minister at a church plant. We lived hours away from family. And we were doing the best we could with what we knew. Our life and our marriage were okay, but I felt we were missing something. We were not experiencing the abundant life Jesus talks about in the Bible. I had this thought, “God did not intend for two people who loved him and loved each other to live like this.” I just knew there had to be a better way, and I was going to search for it.

So, I started calling local churches to see if I could find one that had a Bible study that offered childcare. I found one and joined. I also started reading all the books I could one marriage. And. God told me to talk less and pray more. (This might have been about the time I started seriously journaling. I started writing out all my thoughts, feelings, frustrations to God in notebooks instead of dumping them out loud. Often when I did this I would see how I contributed to the problem, or was looking at the situation wrong, or how it wasn’t really that big of a deal, or saw a solution, and God changed me and how I saw the other person or circumstance. God is really good at answering prayers when we are patient and listen.)

This was a long process. I am talking at least a year or more of prayer and study and seeking Him about this area of my life. I think we are always in process of becoming. Moving forward successfully, then making mistakes and having “set-backs,” picking ourselves up and trying again, all the while finding our Strength and our Hope, and our Peace as we TRUST in God. And over time with God’s help I discovered a better Way to live.

I discovered that when I am resting in God’s Love for me, knowing my worth and value are in Him regardless of what someone else does or says, then I can show up in Love in what ever circumstances I am facing, and offer Love to whoever I encounter. God helped me to drop my expectations of Dean and appreciate who he is and love him from there.

I claimed this scripture, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4 NIV. I delighted in God and He changed the desires of my heart to align with His desires. I put Him first and He put everything else in order. This is still a daily surrender for me. I am an on-going work in progress. But I am so thankful that God is not through with me yet, and He won’t give up on me!! Or you!

Dean and I have a great marriage! We are best friends. We have a deep abiding Love and Trust of each other. We have fun and appreciate each other for who we are. We have richly experienced God’s blessing on our marriage as we have trusted Him.

I share this with you because the transforming work God did in my life back then, gave me Hope to believe that He would work and show me a better Way in other areas of my life as I seek Him. When I seek God through the study of His Word, through prayer and listening, as I sit at His feet and soak up His Love, I discover more of His Goodness, Grace, and Joy in life. And I want that for you too!!!

I hope that together we can seek and discover and encourage each other on this wonderful adventure we call life.