Joy in the Journey...

Well, David and I have been courting a week now. Boy, have I learned a lot!

First, I have learned a little more about how much God loves me. WOW. I am blown away by Him. The depths of His care for me seem endless...He so overwhelms me! (in a good way)

Something I have re-learned this week is that I am quick to forget that God cares about the journey...after all, it is the journey He has designed for me and He has a reason for it. Or millions of reasons! Only He knows.

The Scripture posted by my Uncle Bill has been ever-present in my thoughts the last few days..."But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..."

"Waiting on the Lord" is how I want to be known.

That being said, I'd like to enlist the help of those who love and care for me.

To aid us in waiting on the Lord, and finding joy in the journey, not to mention guarding our hearts, would you please help us keep our conversations at the "courtship" level, and not encourage us to talk at the "engagement" level. Thank you so much for your help with this!

It is hard to wait and pay attention to the journey when you're excited. I hope it goes without saying that your prayers are greatly appreciated in this regard. THANK YOU for your faithfulness to our Lord and to us!

Even more amazed by His grace,
Colleen

Guess who's courting!

This evening I went on an outing with my long-time friend, David Moore. The purpose of the outing, to begin our courtship!

David and I met 6 years ago in Atlanta...we went to the same church, and he began attending the same care group as me. We've been good friends since the very beginning!

This evening we began by going to dinner, and once the waitress took our order David proceeded to tell me that he had spoken with my dad and asked Dad's permission to court me. He went on to tell me that my dad had given his permission, and then asked me if he may court me.

With joy overflowing from my heart I said "Yes" to courtship.

The "yes" was followed by David presenting me with a a small, rectangular, black velvet box . The box contained a silver chain and hanging from the chain was a beautiful silver oval pendant with diamonds around the face. I was so overwhelmed! How could I stand up under the AMAZING kindness God was showering me with! To have a godly man, who is one of my best friends, ask my dad for permission to court me AND give me diamonds???

It was so humbling! I can't even begin to understand why God is so good to me, but I am SO glad He is!

David and I enjoyed our time at the restaurant, although I barely ate anything...We went out for ice cream on the way home to a place that was my favorite growing up (Carvel)...then we went and picked up Brianna from my friend.

Brianna is OVERJOYED! Her Uncle President is one of her very favorite people! She and I were both smiling so much our cheeks hurt...yet we couldn't stop smiling! She took a picture of David and I to commemorate the occasion (above)...The picture below was this past Saturday at EPCOT...another fun time!

Our evening ended after the picture...David still had a 2-hour drive back to Jacksonville.

While many, and I do mean many, people have been wondering for years why we weren't a couple, it seems now is the Lord's timing for us. We are SO excited!

David, Brianna and I so need your prayers as we seek the Lord's will in this relationship. Thank you for your faithful friendship!

Amazed by HIS grace,
Colleen

A moment of reflection...

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:13

How this speaks to my heart today…

Ten years ago today I entered a new season of life. I became a widow. I was 27 years old, I had a 5-month-old baby girl, and the Lord took my husband home. I remember feeling like a hollow shell…somehow filled with peace, but hollow nonetheless.

I remember thinking how kind God was not to make Tony suffer another day, and to end my torment of wondering “when will he die”. I also remember thinking that if I wasn’t married within the year I would die. Not “I don’t want to be single more than a year”, but “I will die because I am not cut out to be a single person”.

God’s kindness has only increased with each day. Here I stand, a decade later, and the person I see in the mirror is not the person I saw that day. Instead of being hollow I am filled to overflowing. Instead of dreading the year to come I am bubbling over with anticipation of what God has in store. And I am more in love with my Savior today than ever.

As for Jeremiah 31:13, I am STILL a young woman, and I am moved to dance for the joy that God has placed in me. He has comforted me, and my mourning has been turned in to joy. I do not regret a single day of the last 10 years, I know that each moment was part of God’s plan to miraculously transform me…to teach me how faithful He is and will continue to be. Lord, please let this good work continue!

Yesterday a friend told me “faith” is a gifting of mine. That alone is a miracle! I was the biggest worry wart when I was a teen and into my 20’s. To be known as a woman of faith is HUGE!

I stand today in faith for what I once thought impossible. I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord to see how HE will make the impossible possible. I feel my face glow as I anticipate Him revealing the next step…I know that whatever it is, He will be glorified through my life and I am so grateful that He would use me, a wretch, for any of His purposes, let alone for His name to be glorified in all the earth! Oh Lord, how kind you are to me!

How about you? Are you rejoicing? Are you dancing? Does your mourning need to be turned into joy? Cry out to God for He is faithful! Whatever circumstance you are in, He is there…and He has a purpose for this season in your life. Be grateful for this time, it won’t last forever, but the fruit of it will!

During our time of worship on Sunday we sang a song that used to be a hope of mine…I have included the lyrics below. This time when we sang the song I realized the words I used to hope to be true in my life are now a reality of mine! Oh, how good God has been to me! I pray that if you are not in the place of these words being a reality in your life that God will bring you to that place! (I know He will!) Here are the lyrics:

So I’m lifting up my hands, I’m lifting up my voice, I’m lifting up Your Name, and in Your grace I’ll rest. For your love has come to me and set me free. I’m trusting in Your Word, trusting in Your cross, trusting in Your blood and all Your faithfulness. For Your power at work in me is changing me.

Amazed by His grace,

Colleen