Bird Song

A Conversation with My Father

     Happy Valentine's day, everyone! Here are just a few Valentine-ish thoughts for you today . . .

     In case you were wondering, I don't have a boyfriend. In fact, I have never had a boyfriend, even though I'm eighteen. As a single young woman, I want to be focused on falling in love with the Lord and serving Him -- and saving my heart for the one man He has handpicked for me. That sounds lovely, but it's not always easy! Maybe some of you are struggling with the same thing. In fact, maybe you've had conversations with God about it. I know I have. Would you care to eavesdrop on one? I give my permission!

     It happened during one of those quiet times alone with God. "Lord, I'm so lonely. Everyone has their "special someone" except me! I know I'm not supposed to have a guy friend right now, but it's hard! I want someone to love me!"
He listened patiently as I poured out my heart and answered gently, "You are loved."
I drew back a little, embarrassed. "Oh. Yes. 'For God so loved the world . . .' I know all of that."
"Do you really?"
"Well . . ."
"Do you truly understand My love? Daughter, from everlasting have I loved you." (Jer. 31:3)
"But Lord, other guys don't notice me. They reject me. I'm not good enough for them. I can't compete with the other girls."
His voice was surprised. "And you're saying that their opinion is more important than Mine?!" (Prov. 29:25)
I felt foolish.
"Listen. I have chosen you and not thrown you aside. (Isa. 41:9) Although others may have rejected you, I have not. (Isa. 54:6) You are Mine!" (Song 2:16)
My complaints and hurt were melting away. "You really love me like that?"
"Oh, yes. And there's much more. I know that you want someone to think you're beautiful. I do. (Ps.45:11) I see how you long to be precious to someone, how you wonder if anyone ever thinks of you. I do, more often than you can imagine." (Ps. 139:17)
By now, I was overwhelmed. "Are You sure that You have the right girl? Do You know who I am -- what I've done? I haven't loved You like this!"
His voice was gentle. "I know everything about you. (Ps. 139:1-4), but that doesn't change My love. True love is not given because it is deserved! (1 Jn. 4:10) I loved you while you were filthy in your sin. (Rom. 5:8). And now that you have repented of your sin and placed your faith in My Son, I call you daughter and you call me Father." (2 Cor. 6:18, Rom. 8:15)
I was weeping. "Father, forgive me! I have loved other things when I should have loved You! I have ignored Your love!"
"I do forgive you. (1 Jn. 1:9) And I have given you the ability to love Me. (1 Jn 4:19) So, do! Love Me with all that you are." (Matt. 22:37)
"I will, Father."
"Oh, and about the other love . . .trust Me. I know what is best for you, and I won't keep back anything that would be good for you. (Ps. 84:11) Until the right time, wait! Guard your heart and keep the precious love I have given you hidden away until My set time. (Song 2:7) Follow Me, your true and forever love, and you will never lack. (Matt. 6:33) Delight in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart." (Ps. 37:4)



 

Me? Do hard things?

    Oh, it has been entirely too long since I've been on here! Not completely by choice -- it can be hard to get screen time with a 7 people/1 computer ratio. Plus, I wanted to wait to write because I knew that after this weekend at our state's homeschool conference, I would have plenty to write about. (I had no idea just how much.)
     Have you ever experienced a sudden inrush of ideas and inspiration, so much that your mind is ready to burst? This is how this year's homeschool conference affected me. Not surprisingly, it's too much for one post, but I do want to share some of it here.
    At the homeschool conference, we bought the book Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. Up until now, I haven't been very familiar with The Rebelution, but I have been thrilled with Do Hard Things.  To be very honest, I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to teen movements, because most of the ones I've seen are all hype and not enough substance. This one is different. It presents the very real problem: That we, as young people, have allowed ourselves to be stifled by a culture of low expectations; and the solution (simple, but incredibly inspiring): Do hard things.
    In reading the book, I was challenged, inspired, excited, and utterly convicted all at once. The beginning of the book was the most difficult to read. I recognized myself as one who has often believed the lie that, since I am young, I cannot do big things. Then I began to feel discouraged after reading about those who have done big things; I'm slightly behind in the "doing big things" department. Thankfully, that didn't last. A few major truths have burned themselves into my mind; one of those that I gladly grasped was that not all hard things are huge. Or even noticed. I have been doing hard things! Serving at home and church, being faithful "in that which is least" is really the first step to doing other hard things. The other thing that stood out to me was that I cannot call myself to hard things. If I strike out on my own, trying to do hard things in my own strength and for my own benefit, I'll fall flat on my face. My efforts will be useless. But when God calls a person to impossible tasks, then He will give the strength and success, and He will get the glory!       
    So now, I'm ready. I'll continue to be faithful in what I'm already doing, but it's time to abandon my comfort zone and . . .Do Hard Things. The Lord has already given me some opportunities, and I'm excited to see what He will do. The Lord's plans are always exciting. Hopefully, I'll even get to write about some of them here.
    And now, what about you? Are you ready to do hard things for the glory of God?

P.S. I'd love to hear other bloggers' thoughts on doing hard things. If you write about it, let me know!          

Staying In My Own Story