True Love Waits.

So we've all heard the quote that's my post's title. That phrase that just drives us nutty because, while it may be true, we haven't perfected the spiritual fruit of patients! I know that it's true for me. In fact, I'm going through this struggle right now. 

Everywhere I'm looking it seems that someone I know is either in a relationship or getting into one. You can't escape the love songs, even with Christian artists. TV, books and movie are all waving them in our faces. 

So, as a eighteen year old girl, I struggle. I know he (as in, future spouse) is out there. And you know what? It's infuriating to think about it! He could be dating someone else! And God knows we're going to be together someday. But right now? We could be half a world away.

I've quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path." But it's hard to live out. 

So that's why I'm working on this! I'm calling it ...

Five things to do while you wait for your future spouse

OR

The Waiting List

(Let me know your favorite in the comments!) 

Okay! Here we go! 

1. Write to him/her. Seriously! I do this and it's so cool to think about giving it to him on our wedding night. But a few warnings! Don't write to a specific person! If you're dating in high school/college, write to your future spouse, not your boyfriend/girlfriend. This will ruin your whole journal. I mean, who wants to give something to their husband or wife that was written for someone else? What I write is scripture passages that I want him to read, things I'm looking forward to in marriage, basically whenever I'm thinking about him. Not a silly crush, not an actor or other famous person. HIM. 
2. Pray for him/her. This is another thing that is so cool! Seriously pray for your spouse. I also use my journal for this! You can also pray for the person you're crushing on. Ask God to show you whether this like will turn into love. I did this on my last crush and fair warning, sometimes God's answer isn't what we want. But, he will always help you through it. 
3.  Feed on God's word. Okay so I am so bad at this one! I know it's important but when life is good, it gets easy to just ignore the Bible on my nightstand. But the only way to grow closer to a spouse (future or otherwise) is to grow closer to Jesus.  
4. Don't be a chaser! Be happy in your singleness! Until we can full accept being single, God isn't going to bring in a man to our lives. What do I mean by that? Okay so I know a lot of girls (and if you're one of these I still love you!) who don't feel like they're worth anything with out a boyfriend. They break up and then a month later they're dating someone else! Seriously?! I thought Bob Smith was the love of your life! Well obviously not. And see, that's the problem! We need to realize that God can use us whether we have a boyfriend/spouse or not. Lottie Moon and Corrie ten Boom were two single ladies who did amazing work for the Lord. God doesn't care about your relationship status. He cares about your heart.
5. Live your life to its fullest NOW! There are many things that, once you're married, you won't be able to do! So live your life right now. Do the crazy things you've wanted to do. Write that novel, go to that place, hang out with your firends, go to college, ect. Yes, marriage is wonderful. But once you're married ... you're married! The two of you become one and you're a team. You're now not only caring for yourself, you have someone else depending on you too. So life your life when it's yours.  

That's my list guys! And listen, I'm not anti-marrige. Not at all! :) Just check out some of my stories and you'll see that, like Anne Shirley, I'm a hopeless romantic. I dream and I wish and I hope. But above all I wait. And I now God'll brinig a man to me that's worthy of my heart someday. Maybe sooner than I think ... and when he appears? Oh what a day of rejoicing that'll be for me! 

Jesus, I'm waiting on you. You know where he is. You know who he is. I trust you to bring him to me when I am ready. I'm hiding my love away and saving it for him. Help me to wait on your timing. For you make everything beautiful in it's time (Ecc. 3:11a) I love you Lord! Amen 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words ...

So ... to finish up my love tag, I want to share some wonderful picture/quotes about love. I am a Pinterest freak, so feel free to find and follow me there! :) 

Serious first

#1 

This is the reason we can love. Because God bothered to love us first! 

#2

This is what I've been saying guys! Agape love is a protective love that seeks the best for the one loved!

#3

Again! What I've been a sayin'! Think this one speaks for itself! ;)

Now for the fun! 

#4

This made me chuckle! This is me and my future boyfriend for sure! 

#5

Pooh Bear was my childhood, so a quote from him is always acceptable! :) 

Now, VIDEOS! 

Fun One!

Serious One!

(Songs owned by Anthem Lights)

So, that's all guys! I hope my love rants have helped you! Remember, wait for that Agape Love! It'll be so stinkin' worth it! 

True Love Waits

So my last post was on what love does. How it acts.

This post is no different! :) 

Honestly, this is something that I've been thinking about a lot. When will the man God has for me show up? How will I know when he does? What if *gasp* he is already there and I'm friends with him?!

Isn't that a weird thought? I mean, I know quite a few guys (maybe you're even reading this!) and they're amazing, amazing people. 

I think one of the most profound posts I've ever read about guys and romantic relationships is this one here: 

I think this is so relevant! We girls (I don't know about guys!) fall for a Prince Charming. If we think you're cute, we fall and usually fall pretty hard. 

But that's not love! 

We say "Oh, he's my Prince Charming!" and that's fine and dandy! But I think Knight in Shining Armor is better. And even then we should scratch the shining! 

Knights had a pretty awful job. They fought, they worked, and they always had to be on guard. In short, they had to deal with the nitty gritty crap in the castle life. They got messy. They didn't always have perfect hair and clothes. Their armor got dirty and they had to clean it.

I think as girls, we have this unrealistic expectation of what guys are going to do for us. I know I do sometimes.   

I want to tell you girls something. (Sorry to all my guy readers! This one's for the girls!)

 The man you marry is not going to be perfect.

Let me repeat that:

The man you marry is not going to be perfect! 

Shocking, I know. I mean, he's human. He's going to do things that annoy you. He's going to squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle, he's going to leave his shoes out in the middle of the hallway, he's not going to always understand you. He's going to have bad days, days he's not going to be there for you because he has his own problems.

He's going to be a lot like you.

You , too, are going to do things that are going to drive him nutty! Habits that are so normal are going to be pet peeves you didn't know existed. That's life! 

But I think that's what makes love so very important. (Guys you can tune back in now!)  Love is looking past the flaws and the things they do that drive us crazy. Love is taking the baggage we both have and carrying it together. Love is listening when they've had an awful day and pushing our own problems back. Not to say our problems aren't important. They are. But love is dealing with it as a team. Never giving up, no matter the struggles, the tears, the hurt. 

That is the love we find in 1 Corinthians 13. That, my friends is Agape Love.

This is the goal, guys and gals. Not to find Mr Perfect or Miss Wonderful. No! It's to find the person God has for you. The one who is perfect. not in they have no flaws, but perfect in that God has made them for you. They're going to have flaws and problems. We all do. 

But love past that.

Better yet.

Love thru that. 

That's true love my friends!

If you're with someone right now who doesn't love you like that, with a love that knows no bounds, them please end it! You are so special! You're so worth a person who loves you for you, flaws and all! 

And if  you're not in a relationship ... wait! 

Wait for the person who will love you with an Agape Love. Someone who is so stinkin' worth it that no matter the struggle, no matter the pain, no matter what the heck life throws at you, the two of you will face it hand in hand. 

Trust me guys! 

I think it's going to be worth the wait for that kind of love.