Guest Post~ Preparing for His purpose

 

 

Written by: Joanne

At a very early age, I knew God was preparing me to be a mom. I would lovingly gaze upon all new babies (and still do) and dream of the day that I would be blessed to have my very own.

I prepared myself by cooking, baking and learning all of the things that I thought I needed to learn to be a successful keeper of the home. I would dream of the day that I would have my own home to keep. I would write down the names of the children that I would have, dreaming of what they might look like and how extraordinarily cute they would be. Preparing and waiting, waiting and preparing...I spent what seemed like an eternity waiting for the next step.
 

Many of you lovely young women, may be feeling a sense of unrest. I am sure that most of you have dreams of meeting that special someone, starting a life together and living happily ever after....but when?! Maybe your minutes tick by slowly, and you wonder when God is going to reveal your next step. It is the waiting that is difficult...but it is in the waiting that we are to prepare.

Young Queen Esther knew about waiting. Having just spent an entire year preparing herself to be presented to the King, she knew more about waiting and preparing than all of us combined! She had just endured 12 months of beauty treatments. Now to be completely honest, I sometimes think that I could so use twelve months of spa like treatments,   special food prepared for me, with six months of oil of myrrh followed by six months of special perfumes and ointments! 

After all of the waiting, finally Esther's time had come and she was lavishly dressed in royal robes and jewelry. Esther had prepared herself to meet her King. As history records it she not only met the King but she found great favor with him and he crowned her Queen. Around this time, I am sure Esther thought that her work was done. She had spent hours soaking in oil, eating healthy foods (no cheeseburgers for this gal!) and she had fulfilled her calling of being Queen. 

 

But God wasn't finished with her yet. There was a greater purpose for  all of that waiting. There is a higher purpose for the waiting. Ladies, we all know the history, we know how the story ends! 

The young Queen Esther bravely rescues the Jewish nation because of her acts of unselfish heroism. Through the times of waiting God prepared a path for Esther to fulfill His purposes. I want you to know that all of the waiting and preparing that I did throughout those years prepared me to fulfill the greater purposes that God has had for me. So many years ago I would never imagined the opportunities that God has blessed me with, and many times I have reflected back to those times of waiting and smile at how they have prepared me for a greater purpose, His purpose.

Precious women, give the waiting to God. Ask Him what He wants to prepare you for. Pray for guidance, and then wait. Use your time wisely, dig deep in the Word, gather together with other Christians.

Dream big dreams and be totally sold out for Him!
 

About Joanne:

 

Joanne is a wife to the love of her life and best friend, Jeff and together they have four children Kyle(18), Lauren(16), Conner(13) and Katherine(8). Joanne is actively involved in her church and community with a passion to serve Christ with her whole heart! Joanne home schools her children, loves to read and can always be found in a pair of heels with a tea in hand!

Our Love Story!

 

In honor of February, being the month-of-love!  

I thought you would like to read

How my Mom & Dad met.

Story originally published: May 19th, 2011

On my Mom's Blog!

Enjoy!!

 

 

www.clickingusclose.blogspot.ca

 

Written by: Joceline 

 

 

Seventeen years ago today, 

I met my soul-mate.

My life was forever changed.

Let me take you down memory lane.

I was just about to graduate high school and we were off to a convention,

for private schools.

The convention was a three day competition of various events, from singing to sports to be held
in the state of New York.

The school I attended was requiring we do at least two sporting events.

Since I was already doing volleyball, I thought I'd sign up for something easy, like running long jump.

That's where my first encounter with arrogant
boy comes into play.

My turn had come up and I didn't have a chance to practice but really I thought
"How hard can this be?"

So a running I went, mentally preparing
to hurl my body forward.

I  apparently am an over achiever,
because I lunged myself forward
so hard I couldn't stop.

I landed flat on my face in the sand.

Wow!!! Did that ever hurt!

Arrogant boy laughed at me.

Here he was standing there,
when I was devastated because
I had dirtied my new sweater  and was in great pain...
and he laughed.

I had thought he was cute, but not now.

Rude, just rude!

The teasing continued throughout
that day from arrogant boy, 

and my annoyance was mounting.
( I guess the saying is true,
 boys really do tease girls they like.)
 

After some time of harassment, a friend told arrogant boy that my feelings were possibly becoming hurt and that he should apologize.

Out with arrogant boy... 

enter Prince Charming.

After a lovely apology, things began to change.

I found myself looking to find him at each new event and have some exchange of a look or words.
 

That was by far the fastest three days of my life,
before I knew it, it was our last night and we were leaving.

I had resigned myself that this had been a wonderful,
fun time, but that was it.

Until, a slip of paper was handed
to me by Prince Charming.

I held it in my hand and
wondered if it was
what I was hoping it was.

A phone number
and an address.

Yes!

An exchange of information was made.

Thus beginning a wonderful, 

long-distance relationship.

Our phone bills were quite high, 

but we couldn't help ourselves.

We were falling in love and the sound of each others voice was all we had.

Until Mark, my soul mate moved, 

so we could be closer to each other.

We were engaged after 8 months of knowing each other.

We were quite young, but I knew this was the man I was supposed to marry.

When I was younger I had spent a lot of time thinking and praying as to what I wanted in a husband.

I had even written a list of things I had asked God for in a mate.

What is completely God, 

is that Mark was my list.

Everything I had asked God for, things only He and I knew.

He gave them to me in Mark.

Neither of us were planning to go to convention that year,
 but God had already planned we would.

Isn't He Amazing!

  Until next time,  
 

~Joceline

Guest Post~ Be Specific!

 

Written By: Joceline 

 

As I sit here staring at the cursor waiting for me to expound on the title the Lord dropped into my heart a few weeks back, when Kerrington,  my beautiful daughter, excitedly said "Mom I want you to be the first to guest post on my blog!"

I'll readily admit I wasn't as excited as she was, a small amount of fear hit me, but I truly felt the Lord wanted me to share this subject with my girls, especially, and if you are at all blessed in the process then I have followed the Lord's leading and have pleased my sweet daughter by guest posting on her blog.

 

My words to my three girls are to: Be Specific

 

The story starts back to when I was about fifteen years old. I was at, what most girls in their teenage years are, ready for love or so I thought. I was always very mature for my age so at fifteen I felt I was ready to make that important decision of love and who could be" the one".

Fortunately, my parents had told me that I was to wait until I was older to begin dating.

 Oh! what a blessing that was in my life. I will say that at the time I wasn't too pleased, but I began to take that time to fall more in love with my first prince, Jesus.

 

I so wanted to be in love, my friends were older and some had already begun to date, so I watched.

When I would return home I would sit and ask the Lord "when will it be my turn?"

He is so candid sometimes, He said to me "How can I bring someone into your life when you really don't know what you want."

"Be Specific and ask me."

Really!?!

So that is the night my list was conceived.

It took some time to write it out and would change over the course of the next few years, but the body of it remained the same, kept inside my diary as a constant reminder.

My utmost cry was that he would love the Lord with all his heart.

I had seen homes divided by "religion" and didn't want the struggle that some had to live everyday.

I needed someone who would point me to Him, someone to lead.

This one never changed it remained a constant #1.

 

Others were more superficial request as I was only a teenager, but since He wanted me to be specific, I wrote what was important to me.

Such as I'd love it if he could play an instrument, preferably the piano, I love music and worship, so that seemed something to ask for.

He needed to be taller and have broad shoulders, and blue eyes. I know really ? but the Lord did say be specific and ask.

So why not?

 

Others were very personal and only the Lord and I know these, but they made it to the list, because He knew where I was and what I needed.

What was wonderful about sitting with the Lord, was not only spending time with Him discussing my future, but I truly began to know who I was and what I wanted.

A wonderful time of revelation.

 

I was an avid reader back in the day, I love to read, and happen to read a book about someone marrying a man who was adopted.  Sure enough the Lord asked me "How would feel about marrying someone who was adopted. Not knowing his past, would you be okay with that?"

I contemplated that question for a while and I answered the Lord with a peaceful yes.

Why He would drop that in my heart, I would not know until I met my future husband.

Isn't God amazing!

 He was preparing me for this, my heart was already settled on that matter, before I found out the man I had feelings for was adopted!

 

Everything on my list was fulfilled in my husband, and then some!

Even things I had whispered to the Lord, but never wrote down.

Thank you Lord for keeping me for him.

 

So what I say to my daughters is: Be Specific.

 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 37:4

 

Ask, pray, wait.

He will never let you down.

 

 

Here is some icing on the cake.

This is how wonderful the Lord works.

 

Another request was that it would be nice, but not necessary if he was a fireman. I know you may not believe this one, but the Lord knows, so that is all that matters.

I did not marry a firefighter.

I did not breathe a word of this request, with my future husband, as I didn't want this expectation on him.

About five years into our marriage, my husband began to talk about joining the fire department and then it all made sense. Why would the Lord place on my heart to be married to a fireman, when I wasn't.

 Again, he was preparing me for the day my husband would bring this request before me.

"I want to join the fire department."

There was no hesitation on my part when he spoke those words.

It could have invoked much fear as this is a dangerous job,

 but

the Lord had already given me peace about this years before it came to pass.

 

So my final words to my daughters are,

Do not worry about your future and all that it holds, especially when it comes to your future husband.

God has it all under control.

 

Photo of Kerrington & I :)

 

Just Be specific.

 

Until next time,

 

Kerrington's  mom, 

 Joceline 

 

 

 

The Season of waiting...

Ladies this post is for you!

Grab a hot tea & get comfy

Let's get started...

“She was far too busy living out a passionate romance with Jesus Christ to be pining after an earthly prince.” –Leslie Ludy

 

Everyday of your life you express emotion, whether it be love, joy,happiness, anger, bitterness, etc. (Hopefully it’s not the last two, but we all have those days...thank goodness for grace!)

Emotions can be stirred by many different things...

here are a few examples:

People, Magazines, books, music, movies, colors, & as crazy as it sounds even smells! 

One emotion our society is always promoting is “Love”.

 

How can I get love?

 

Where can I find love?

 

Who can I get love from?

 

Where can I get more love?

 

Who will ever love me?

 

What is love?

 

Ladies! There is a simple answer to all of these questions & you probably already guessed…it's Jesus!!!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

So many times I have been asked

"So Kerrington, do you have a significant other?”

& so many times I have had to sadly answer ..."NO!"

Colossians 4:6

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  

When I answered these people it was always out of anger & disappointment

(no grace or seasoning salt there...lol)

that I didn't "fit in" with this love-obsessed generation...

but wait!!

"Why would I want to fit in with that?"

To feel accepted? ...maybe, to not be so foreign in this generation & a big one for me, to not look so
"Sheltered-Christian-homeschooler"

 if you get what I mean...

Let’s just face it, if we have a Facebook relationship status that stays "single” for all of our teenage years, then we are bound to singleness for the rest of our lives right?

LIES!!!

 

Jesus makes everything perfect in His time!

Just like that verse earlier said

"Love is patient..."

We simply have to just be patient.

The definition of Wait is really neat it means-

To stay in a place of great expectation...

Ladies, don't ever be ashamed of your singleness...
Be bold & confident that you are in a season of waiting & having a more intimate, deeper relationship with Jesus Christ...

make Him the centre of your life... before thinking about that other special someone!

Remember this... just because you are single doesn't mean you have to be lonely :) 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.”

Don't worry about a thing!

Daddy has got it all under-control...

Our God is so loving & personal that He took the time to have a Prayer Warrior in my church stop me yesterday
(of all places in the ladies washroom) & gave me this word about a
"Season of waiting."

Little did she know, it was what I had written for this post earlier in the week...

What a God confirmation her words were!

 

"You should not settle for less than what God has for you, wait for the one He has, don't settle for second, third, fourth, fifth, but wait for the best He has for you. For the one He has will be very special and the best is worth waiting for!"

   As for God, His timing is perfect!

 

Kerrington

 

 

(Check out this song...it is simply amazing!)

http://youtu.be/x9fanXevDLs