In His Time

I LOVE how God appoints exact people and exact minutes, down to the second into our lives!  I went to a potluck at the park today and sat with the same couple of people the whole time and NEVER would I have known that the last 15 minutes of the day (when I finally didn't rush out of there, but relaxed)...would be exactly the time and one-on-one listening a lady needed!  Thank you God for relaxing me and teaching me how to listen.  Thank you for her honesty and open heart to seek you in this difficult time.  It is a time like this that makes me so excited that I do this blog because I forget what a passion and joy it stirs in me to encourage a marriage!  Thank you God for today...every day is a gift that you've been given, live the most of your life every minute you're in it...Lord, I lift her up to you and thank you for my forwardness to lift her up to you in prayer because YOU are the provider and the constant in our lives.  I love you Lord!!!!!  John 15:16

It's Only about YOU and HIM!

It's all about YOU, Jesus..And all this is for you...for your glory and your fame...it's not about ME or that You should do things MY way...You alone are God and you are worthy...to be praised! I so often wish I had a better voice because music sounds SO good in my head, especially when it's worship songs! This one came to mind, so I thought I'd just go with it:)

Well, I noticed a pattern today and whenever I notice a pattern of the same topic coming up over and over, I know there must be many more who need to hear it so let me share about a recent and consistent topic of conversation these last couple weeks for me. It's ALL ABOUT YOU AND HIM!

As much as every single one of us would LOVE to have that PERFECT spiritual relationship with the man we call our husband, it does not exist for many of us, at least not to the levels of what we think of as PERFECT. It is then that we need to remind ourselves that it's not about having that perfect relationship here on Earth, it's about our relationship with the Lord individually that needs to be focused on. Just focus on your OWN relationship with your Lord and let your husband focus on his OWN relationship with his Lord. Once you both are spiritually ready, the Lord will bring you together for what is more beautiful than what you imagine right now (this could be 6 mths or 6 years down the road). Let God do the work, quit trying to make it perfect for Him because it won't be...until He has you just where He wants you AND your husband. Work on yourself!

Forcing a spiritual relationship can sometimes feel similar to being unequally yoked: 2 Corinthians 6:14. Even though both of you might be Christian, you might not be spiritually mature enough to share with each other as God has designed it for us to enjoy. Be Patient in this because it's a long journey, but I'm seeing it be more and more worth it every day. Let's take baby steps and we'll get there. I'd like to dedicate this blog post to my Mom and Grammie for their witness throughout my life of how to build an independent relationship with God FIRST and FOREMOST because it's all about ME and HIM! I love you both so very much and thank you for showing me this most precious piece to life everlasting!

ToBeABride Hit the Road!

I have to start this off by thanking my wonderful "Fair Friend" connection who made this all possible, God works in mysterious ways and according to HIS purpose...Romans 8:28:) I had the opportunity to take the ToBeABride.com Blog on the road and have a booth at a Bridal Show in Santa Barbara this last Sunday. And just how he likes it, Satan was trying to tear me down and make me doubt myself during the whole drive there and boy did God step right in and blow him away ALL day long! The booth consisted of a banner stating "ToBeABride.com: Live your life as a Bride to both your husband and Jesus Christ...You'll be glad you did!" and about 30 or so sample books to show women's, men's, general and pre-marital perspectives. I have been building an inventory since I started the blog so that I can have them to be given away and this was definitely a place to do it! I gave books away to engaged men, engaged women, mothers & in-laws and even some who weren't related to a "Bridal Show" situation at all, but God led them to the booth that day! The following are several stories from my day at the Bridal Show and please check back now and then to see if I added anymore stories because if I forget any by the time I post this, I'll just add them on. Please enjoy and provide comments wherever the spirit leads you. I love you all and am so thankful for how God is using this Blog for ALL OF US to encourage each other along life's roads.

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
A gentleman walked up to the booth and was looking at the books and gasped before he said, "Oh, The 5 Love Languages, that book saved my marriage." As we continued to talk, he shared how he and his wife have passed the book on to several other married couples who they feel the book has done the same for them and he even recalled one couple getting REMARRIED as a result! God, THANK YOU for using this book to touch so many marriages!
That is the point of this blog is to encourage each other and pass on ways that we can keep our marriages ALIVE and CONNECTED and following God's plan for our lives by remaining with the one He chose for us to share His roads with. Each of us can touch someone else by sharing how a book worked in our lives and these one on one heart to heart conversations share our passion for how sacred marriage is to each of us. Don't hold back if you think you have a story that can help someone else!

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
This was the MOST commented on book during the whole day. You'd think that the women would be the talkers, but actually the men shared how touched they were all day long and especially by this book! One gentleman was at the booth with his fiance and mother/in-law and he noticed this book. He mentioned to the ladies that a friend had told him what a great book it was, so I gave it to him after he promised to read it. I gave away four of this book that day and each time I shared my husband's point of view on this book, it melted every single guy. When my husband first read this book years ago, he called me and said, "If you want to understand me, read this book called Wild at Heart."
Another Mother-in-law was at the show and has been praying for her engaged daughter and her fiance non-stop. Her daughter is letting her know how tired she is of hearing, "Have you prayed about that?" and so the mother has been trying to find other ways to let her know her daughter that she cares. She mentioned that she knows her future son-in-law really likes to read and glanced down at the books and thought out loud, "Maybe that's what I need to do is try to find something for him since he's the reader." I immediately picked up Wild at Heart and handed it to her, again sharing my husband's story. She was so excited to get that book and send it to her future son-in-law.

Romancing Your Husband by Debra White Smith
This is the cutest story! A couple walked by the booth and were standing on the corner talking when the man turned and was looking at the books on the corner of the table where Romancing Your Husband happened to be placed. He was definitely eyeing that book then he walked away for a moment. As soon as he walked away I teased the lady, "Quick, hurry, he's gone, grab that book. I'm telling ya, he was looking at that book right before he left, he'd want you to have it." She began laughing hysterically and I convinced her that I was serious and she could have the book for FREE, so she finally took it and placed it in her bag just before he returned. I'd LOVE to hear the results of that book, I hope they have fun with it AFTER their big day!

God's Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs Bible
There was a sweet lady who stopped by the booth and mentioned that she used to have a Bible, but doesn't really know where it is now. She was thumbing through the Hugs Bible when I mentioned that I'd love for her to have that Bible if she promises to read it every now and then and she agreed. She was so thankful, it was precious!

God's Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Women of Faith Bible
I only left my booth two times on Sunday, once to use a restroom and once to say a quick comment to the photographer across the way. When I glanced back at the booth, there was a young lady standing there looking at the books and I didn't want to miss anyone, so I returned. Thank you God for prompting me that she was an important person to return to! I gave her my normal comment, "I have a blog that encourages marriages and these are a sample of books that can help us along the way." I got nothing, but she was intently thumbing through the books and gazing intently. I asked, "Are you engaged?" No. "Are you dating?" Finally a smile, but a response, "No, none of that, I'm just working here today." Well, this just happened to be in the last 45 minutes of the show when nearly every vendor at their booths didn't pay hardly any attention because they were restless to pack up and leave. Thank you Lord for giving me patience this day and being attentive because where the conversation led next was unbelievable! I asked, "Have you ever owned a Bible?" and she responded "I've never even gone to church before or anything, I don't know about any of this." So I began to share about a relationship with Jesus Christ and kept going from there...she was SOOOO open and just kept listening and making eye contact and just thirsting for more. I told her I would love for her to have that Bible if she promised me she'd read it every now and then, but she said she didn't think she would...so I told her I'd love to make that sacrifice and chance that she would.

OH WHAT A DAY, THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT, THIS IS THE DAY, THIS IS THE DAY, THAT THE LORD HAS MADE!

Fairs meet Marriage: My FAVORITE 2 Things!

What a day I had today, absolutely LOVED it! I have been in contact with a gentleman for about a month, from the time he first called me to ask if he could somehow propose to his girlfriend on stage at one of the Fairs where I work. Well, he had me from HELLO because we share the same birthday and he wanted to propose on his birthday and well, I have a heart for marriage so I wanted to find some way some how to minister to this couple! Well, yesterday was THE day and it was absolutely incredible, I had so much fun with this whole thing...maybe I COULD be a Wedding Planner in my future:) Well I had it all coordinated with the Hypnotist, one of my great friends Tyzen, and when he was telling me how he was going to have the guy do the proposal I was already crying! So Tyzen asked me to be in the FRONT row to watch the show just so he could get feedback from my face that things were going as I would like...or so I thought!! Well, yesterday was my birthday, as I mentioned and before the whole proposal, Tyzen really wanted me in the front row to bring me up in front of EVERYBODY to sing Happy Birthday to me. Then it all happened, a beautiful proposal through a card magic trick, a slow dance and a sweet YES was the answer, I was BAWLING!:) I always try to remember to carry a few of the Fireproof movies with me as well as a few of the Love Dare books, so I gave them a Fireproof movie!
Then, little did I know, the night hadn't ended:) A co-worker who I have been working with for about 6 months now came into my office late last night when I had written the first line of this blog and she just came by to chat. WELL, did we chat:) I gave away ANOTHER Fireproof movie!!! I love it, God use me PLEASE! What JOY I receive in sharing His LOVE! I want to love these people and spend time with them and let the conversation flow and just encourage them that they are so loved it's incredible AND IT'S SOOOOO WORKING:) John 3:16

What a Way to Celebrate!

For the second year in a row, I participated in a "Cross-Walk" in Temecula, CA. I had never heard of such a thing prior to last year and now I can't seem to stop spreading the word, but my ultimate plan is to continue in this tradition no matter where I live...AND if there isn't one, start one! Think BIG because God is in control:) We walk about the distance Christ walked to His crucifixion. Several crosses of varying sizes are carried along the route and last year a woman was playing a violin as we walked (how precious the sound was)!

This year, I walked with my cousin and her three precious children, singing youth worship songs towards the end. What a sweet, sweet time to think about our Lord and how grueling that walk must have been (already having been beaten, then being forced to carry a huge log-like cross, for hours because he could barely walk). Thank you Lord for saving me, what can I say, you are my everything, I'll sing your praise! Great are you Lord! Happy Easter! Read Luke 23 and John 19 to see it for yourself, read slowly and take in deeply what our Lord did for us!

Submit a post to share on the blog about what you did for Easter, or what touched you during this holiday that maybe you've never thought about before and I'll send you the movie Fireproof or the book Love Dare, whichever you prefer!

Fireproof Your Marriage With Us!

I have a fabulous GUEST BLOGGER today! For those of you who read and haven't yet participated in My 1st Giveaway!, my sister-in-law has some great words of encouragement from her time spent in reading the book Love Dare. It is very special to me to share her words since she sent the book to me and my husband without us knowing and I am overwhelmed with God's perfect timing for this book in my life. Please let me know your stories, they don't have to be about the book, just great things we can share with each other about life, love, marriage, our walk with our Lord and anything else that can be encouraging as we abide in Him and for Him throughout life.
May John 3:16 be your greatest comfort today:) I love you!
Since I read this blog, I have wanted to respond, not necessarily for the movie giveaway, but because I have read the book and it brought so much to me so here it is. I have finished reading Love Dare, and I have bought it and sent it out to the people I love the most, so that they too can benefit from it. Not because you try to fix their marriage, or because anything is wrong with it, but because I love them all and hope and pray that something in that book clicks and maybe just maybe betters them as a human being, Christian, and yes, even partner. But this is what I got from it. I got a positive outlook to marriage. Coming from a surrounding of not so positive outlooks, I learned "marriage" is not just a commitment, it's a covenant. Not just with your spouse, but with God. And in trying to work out a marriage, the good and the bad, you are also working on a covenant with God. In a marriage there REALLY ARE 3, but first you must know how to put God first and above all else. You must learn to trust and put your faith in God, that things will change, and things may hit rock bottom, but if you have a strong foundation with God, and hold on tight, you WILL survive. You will come out stronger and better. God gives you the person meant for you, you may not always like the packaging after awhile, but it is what God needs in your life. And we must remember that we OURSELVES may not always be the best packaging for our spouses, but we must never give up in trying to be who the Lord intended us to be in order to give our spouses whom they were intended to have. Many parts of the book struck and stuck with me, but one in particular makes sense. We can not change people, they are who they are until "they" choose to change, but you can have a part in that not by being negative or giving up or yelling or fighting, but by praying for them. Because ultimately, it is out of our hands. Ultimately, only God can change people. Ultimately, they will see that anything is possible once they accept God. And all you can do is be true to your God, and be true to yourself, and be there to support them in their path to God. We have to work on ourselves, and our relationship with God, and let God, and only God, work on them.

Beautifully written by Angie.