Who's getting married?

Andy and I said the big "I DO" almost 10 years ago this September. What an fabulous memorable day that was! Let's see... It was raining, once I was in my dress and we were about to leave the house, I decided I had to pee... lol, our limo driver FORGOT to fill up with gas- so we had to stop ON THE WAY;oh... did I mention I was LATE?!!, and my sister tripped on the way up the isle, and Andy and I said our vows TWICE!! LOL 

"Saying our vows twice" LOL

To have and to hold from this day forward,

for better or for worse, 

in sickness and in health,

for richer, for poorer,

to love and to cherish

in sickness and in health,

I DO.

Wow-- two little words.. "I DO" -- and what a BIG.. HUGE deal they are too! If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I'd be where I am today... ummm no. LOL But you know what? I am SO beyond happy that I spoke those two words and married my best friend that day. I love you Andy. xoxox

A few months ago, I had decided to paint this canvas that I had in the art room. I painted it a beautiful aqua-green color and was inspired to write out wedding vows on it. I left the bottom empty because I had the thought of somehow attaching a picture of andy and me there. Well, I decided to hang it anyways-- as is in our bathroom. Our bathroom has a beach theme to it and I thought that it went well. So, I was getting out of the shower and looked up at the painting and thought "You know, that vow doesn't just have to be between andy and me... it's kinda like between husband and wife-- like Jesus and me-- He is my groom and I am His bride." And if you think about it... and read it from a "Jesus perspective" it reads so true... so lets look at this vow::

"I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish you, to take care of you, to comfort you, encourage you, and to stay with you for all eternity."

Now... read it like this...

JESUS will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph.

HE promises to cherish you, to take care of you, to comfort you, encourage you, and to stay with you for all eternity."

COOL RIGHT?! 

There are a few verses in the bible that I absolutely LOVE that I want to share.


Isaiah 62:5 niv "...as a *bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you."  *bridegroom is Jesus


John 3:29 niv "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice..."

Questioning if you are in fact "HIS" bride? 

"How do I know Michelle?" 

Okay, simple answer here-- you must be born again/ saved ... in english... accept Jesus into your heart. Ask Him... say you are sorry for your sinful living and tell Him you want to live for Him. Ask Him to come inside your heart and help you live an awesome life with Him. 


Your rebuttal... "I don't need Jesus in my heart... I believe in God that'd be enough. I know of God... I say thanks at dinner time, I don't sin... I go to church every Sunday- I even help out. "


Jesus says that you cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are in fact born again/saved. This is not me telling you you can't go to heaven unless you repent for your sins and ask Jesus into your heart... this is Jesus saying this. 


John 3:3-8 niv

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”
⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”


John 3:16-20 ncv
¹⁶ "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. ¹⁷God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.¹⁸ People who believe in God's Son are not judged guilty. Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty, because they have not believed in God's one and only Son.¹⁹ They are judged by this fact: The Light has come into the world, but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things.²⁰All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do. ²¹ But those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God."


Once you make the decision to make Jesus your Lord and Savior of your life- He becomes your Bridegroom-- and YOU become His Bride!!! YOU ARE HIS AND HE IS YOURS!!! HE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, CARE FOR YOU, SUPPORT YOU, ENCOURAGE YOU, LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY, BE THERE IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, RICHER OR POORER-HE IS YOUR HUSBAND!!! 


Just as your earthly husband made these promises-- and you made these promises your husband-- when you accepted Jesus- he made these promises with you. 
If you are reading this and #1 say you are not married yet (hang in there) or #2 your husband doesn't act on the above promises... Jesus is your ultimate husband- He is your bridegroom-& He will love you forever.

If you already are born again/saved... awesome!! Please share this with someone-- don't "bullhorn" it - (meaning get on your personal soapbox in the middle of the street and yell at random people)- be gentle- one at a time- share with someone gently... Jesus saved your life, wiped your dirty, mucky, moldy slate clean- whiter than snow-- don't you want others to experience Jesus' grace & love too? 

The ultimate question of the evening... 

Are you HIS bride?

Take care of you :)

For you my love::

 "...I found the one my heart loves." Song of Songs 3:4 niv 

I wanted to tell the world about my amazing hubby- my best friend- he is the greatest man! I love him so much and I am so blessed that God put us together. In March 2002- Andy and I met for the first time and started dating. Decided to get married- and in September we will be celebrating 10 years!!!  "When you find the one your heart loves- you want to start your life with them as soon as possible"- When Harry Met Sally

I LOVE YOU ANDY!! XOXOXOX

He is so charming, uplifting, & honest. He supports me and encourages me- He is my sunshine!!!

No marriage is squeaky clean perfect- but we try :) God is so awesome for putting us together and keeping our relationship strong during the good and bad times- sickness and in healthy times-- 

I love doing little things for him- he smiles and that makes my heart smile!! Whether it be a card or a sticky note, getting him a candy bar- or grabbing his hand-- it's the little things that make those moments so special. 

So, tell your special someone you love them and appreciate them. It will feel so good and make them feel amazing. Do something special for them- this doesn't always mean "spend money"- be creative. Make dinner for them and decorate with what you have to make it a "theme" dinner... Make them a card to tell them you appreciate them, while they are in the shower- take a towel and throw it in the dryer to get it warm and then hang it back up for them-- Do their laundry... the list goes on and on. Just be you- and tell them you love them. 

 Take care of you :)

It only takes a whisper

Say it with me...

Man has this been difficult for me to do lately. I personally have so much going on in my head at the moment- in my life. They are simply things that I cannot control myself and boy can I say how hard it is to give up total control?!! I need to remember to give my worries to God because that's His job to take care of them- & not my job. 

I'm really not going to go into detail this time- but we will just call the problems "life challenges"- you all know them-- money, family, marriage, car, job, health... etc. 

I have actually had two different friends tell me to take a deep breath over the past few weeks-- what can I say... it's been a difficult few weeks, and my stress level is rising. 

I have to remember that God is on my side and that He is carrying me through this nasty mess- He's restoring me- He's giving me His strength!!  

Have ya'll ever heard of the Serenity prayer? It's one of my favorite prayers actually. It goes like this...

God, 

Grant me the serenity 

to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

the wisdom to know the difference.

Oh, so true!! Why is it so hard to meditate on good & positive things- why do we always seem to go for the negative approach first? 

1 Peter 5:8 says::Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

So, see- we have to be on alert! We have to be in the right frame of mind- being positive- that stupid devil is just waiting for us to have our negative hat on so that he can slither in...Noooo!!! Just whisper His name JESUS!!!! & He will run to you and rescue you.

You are all I need Jesus- thank You for running to me!!!

Remember to take deep breaths, BREATHE, & whisper His Name...

Take care of you :)

Relationships...

Question of the day:: How important are relationships to you?

My amazing hubby & me

I'm talking about all kinds of relationships-- husband & wife, mom & daughter, brother & sister, best friends, dad & son... so on and so on... there are a thousand combinations here...  no matter how you put it, they are all important... right?

Dad & Me

I'm gonna chat with you about friendship relationships. My dad used to tell me "Shelly, you think you have ALL these "friends"- most of them are just acquaintances"- (& of course me and my young rebel self- was like NO NO they are NOT!! They are my true friends dad! You don't know them!) lol you've heard the saying "Father knows best" --you guessed it-- he did!! All of those "friends" dropped me like a hot potato!! He also said "Shelly, you can count your real true friends on one hand- and if you are lucky you will be able to fill it up" Well, he was so right!! Over the years, "friends" (acquaintances) have come and go- I'm 30 now, and I thought that I would have a solid group of friends by now-- you know like the TV show Friends-- they are so close and are just perfect all together; or like the show Sex in the City-- all 4 gal pals livin' it up in NYC- depending on one another to pull through the craziness of life. YEAH OKAY!!! Nothing has proven to be THAT perfect. lol

There comes a time in your life I think that you hit (or at least I have) where you are done "playing around" trying to find a friend to be there no matter what- it's kinda a feeling like when you decide to find a guy to settle down with- that "I'm done just dating for fun" feeling- you crave a more serious, dependable, honest, trustworthy person. 

Do I sound crazy?

Let's compare a friendship relationship to a marriage relationship... 

Well lets face it-- don't we all deserve a REALLY GOOD friend? "Oh yeah, yeah, I have good friends Michelle..." Okay awesome-- 

Well let me ask you... What is a good friend?

• Someone who when you are stuck on the side of the road with no gas or car problems- will jump and come rescue you- nothing like "well I really don't have the gas money.." or guilting you into paying them to come get you
• Someone who when you need prayer- will cover you
• Someone who you can call or text at 2am because you can't sleep- and they actually care to call or text back
• Someone who when you are sick- comes and takes care of you & calls you daily to make sure you are doing okay
• Someone that YOU are willing to drop everything for and ask/expect nothing in return
• Someone who lifts you up and encourages you and tells you the hard truth-- even if it hurts.

These are just some for instances. 

~Ang & Me~

I am so overjoyed to say that I have found the ultimate friend -- she is my best best friend and God placed her in my life, and me in hers! I am just so, so thankful for her and the precious life God has given her!!! Her name is Angie- Thank You so much God for her!!! Man, it has taken YEARS of my life to find her!!! 

Do you know anyone like this? Married folks are like "um yeah... my spouse" --well think about this... If you are married... do you know anyone like this BESIDES your spouse? What if your spouse is like mine and out of the state most days... then what?

What about God? Just a thought... How is your relationship with Him? 

• Do you talk to Him? --Just talk regular as if He was standing right beside you. Like "Hi God, I'm feeling ___________ today. Thank you for being with me." That's it- doesn't have to be anything fancy. 
• Do you read the bible?-- Doesn't have to be for hours-- just spend some time reading with Him. I started in the New Testament- not in the gospels but after-- like after Romans. I actually started in 1 Timothy. Pick somewhere and start. Just read a chapter or a few verses and make that your uninterrupted time with God.
• Do you pray/meditate (thinking on good, praiseworthy things)? Again, no need to be all elegant and fancy here- just speak from your heart. Just talk regular- as if you were talking to your spouse or family/friend. 

Just a little something to think about- yesterday we were talking about "de cluttering" your life and letting God organize it-- relationships go with this. Evaluate your relationships... think about your relationship with God. 

Also remember that you can change a relationship with your words-- that can be a positive or a negative statement-- be careful here. Make it an effort to encourage not discourage!!

Some of my important relationships...

Bro in law Justin & My sister Christine

Mom, Andy & Me

Take Care of you :)

He's got you covered like a chocolate donut!!

What do these yummy chocolate covered donuts have to do with love? Keep reading
to find out... It's totally worth it!! :)

It was one Sunday at church that Andy was preaching on LOVE- and in the middle of the service, he handed out a piece of paper that was folded in half. When we opened it up- it was a letter from "Dad"- a love letter written from God to us. As he read it aloud- it touched my heart & brought tears to my eyes. All of these are scriptures from the bible. I urge you to read them aloud- not just silently to yourself- but aloud. It's amazing- something about hearing yourself actually SPEAK it-- you know, there is life and death in the tongue-- :)

This below is called "The Father's Love Letter":: ENJOY!!!

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad-Almighty God

So... whatcha think?! Amazing right?!! Soooo-- I actually have something else to share with you too. 


Okay, honestly it wasn't until really recent that I was able to actually wrap my entire head and entire heart around this statement & truth... and this is going to sound crazy but... I BELONG TO JESUS! --okay, you are like  "ummm yeah Michelle, we know that..." but REALLY REALLY REALLY I BELONG TO HIM!!! HE LOVES ME!!! I AM HIS!!! I AM HIS BRIDE!!!




Here's a few questions... & I've asked them before, i'm gonna ask them again... 


Do you know Jesus? 
Do you believe He is the Son of God?
Do you know that God sent His Son for YOU- to wash away your sins?
Do you know that Jesus died for YOU?
Have you asked Him to come into your life and live within you?


... He's coming back for you! He's preparing a great and glorious place for you... He WILL BE BACK!!!


SO... what does it mean to answer yes to all these questions? If you have, it means Jesus lives inside you- your heart and He has made you clean. You belong to Him and He intercedes before God for YOU. You are HIS-- You belong to HIM-- NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT!! HE loves you... He is ALWAYS there for you. 


Just as you get married, and you now are your husbands and he is yours-- Your husband would do anything for you- and if you were in trouble, your husband would say "NO-- she's with me!!" Well, Jesus does that for you!! Jesus says "NO-- SHE'S WITH ME!!"  He is there fighting for you, sticking up for you, giving you encouragement and strength!! 


^{Isaiah 62:5: 5} As a young man marries a woman, so your children will marry your land. As a man rejoices over his new wife, so your God will rejoice over you. 


I can't stress this enough-- YOU ARE HIS AND YOU BELONG TO HIM FOREVER!!!


So, in the New Testament when it talks about judgement day- where you stand before God-- Jesus is right there interceding-- She is mine and she belongs to me and I love her. I have washed her clean. 


Do not fear about the whole "judgement day"- know that You belong to Jesus and He lives inside you- He's got you covered!! (as we used to say... "got you covered like a chocolate donut") 


Take care of you :)

Permission to reprint: 

Please feel free to copy and paste the text of Father's Love Letter to share with othersproviding you abide by the following conditions...1. You use the Father's Love Letter text in its entirety.2. You do not use it for commercial purposes3. You include the following copyright notice wherever it is displayed...Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications © 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

I am Love?

Today while sitting in the waiting room at the acupuncturist, I was reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and had a thought...

Humor me and read the following... 

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud.⁵ Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. ⁶Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. ⁷ Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.

Interesting right? One of the most known and common scriptures in the bible- a verse that is used at weddings-- not really thought of being used on a daily basis. But what would this verse be like if used on a daily basis- what would it look like? Where would you even begin?

Try this...

Insert YOUR NAME wherever it says "love" (the blank spots)-- here's what it would look like...

^{4 ___________}is patient, _________ is kind. _________does not envy, _________does not boast, ________is not proud. ^{5 ___________}does not dishonor others, ___________is not self-seeking, _________is not easily angered, ___________keeps no record of wrongs.^{6 ____________}does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ^{7 ___________}always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

When you ask Jesus to come into your heart-- His love blossoms inside you- God lives inside you and His love illuminates through you and in you -- therefore Love is God, God is Love, and You are God's Love & He is your Love. YOU ARE LOVE.

~ L O V E ~   L O V E ~ L O V E ~

Hmmmm... takes a different spin now doesn't it?! You could walk that everyday~ who would have thought... 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 not only for the alter. 

Now try it!! Read it out loud... really read it with your name inserted. What an uplifting difference this makes!!

Take care of you :)

~As a side note... I know everyone who reads might not have a relationship with God-- & that's okay-- maybe you have had one and "walked away" or know Him but don't really KNOW Him & love Him as your own. I encourage you to seek Him-- just ask Him to help you live day to day- allow Him to walk beside you, and love on you.~ I'm not preaching at ya-- I just want to lift ya up :)