more than a feeling

Hey, girls!  I (Nicole) am so glad that Jess opened the next few weeks up to whatever the Lord might say, in whatever direction he leads.  Not having a “theme” is really going to allow us to just open up to you guys about what is going on in our personal relationships.  I hope that we can all gain something from it!

I wanted to give you a little peek into my relationship, lately.

Quiet.

Yep, very quiet.  I am still reading my bible, praying, and just spending time with Him throughout the day, but it’s been a pretty quiet couple of weeks.  I haven’t really felt his presence.  I haven’t really been moved like crazy.  I haven’t really had an exciting couple of weeks.  But, the Lord is teaching me though that.

I’m a gal who puts a lot in emphasis on feelings. 

“This doesn’t make me happy.”

“I’ve just been in a bad mood.”

“Well, that just ruined my day.”

“That style of worship just doesn’t do as much for me.”

“I didn’t have an amazing morning in the Word… something must be wrong.”

Almost all of my thoughts are connected to my feelings, but this is a dangerous place to be, my friends.  Completely relying on feelings will lead to a life on a rollercoaster.  You’ll be happy one day, in a low pit the next, and you just can’t seem to find steady ground.  I have definitely been in this place and I’m just now learning to find my way out.

If I based my life on my feelings towards this circumstance in my life and this moment in my day and this week I just had I would be in a pretty rotten place.  I would be miserable, completely discontent, and an anxious mess. 

We must learn to live beyond our feelings. 

I think the Lord has been more quiet lately to see if I could be content just to meet with him, sit with him, and accept the truth that is in His word.  No, not every morning spent in the word is going to totally blow your mind.  But, should I still be content to sit and learn and wait for Him to speak?  Yes!  Even though I may not have a warm “feeling” about where I am in my walk, God is no less there.  My faith has to go deeper than just a feeling, because if it doesn’t, it will be really easy for me to give up in the quiet times. 

The Lord is still being faithful to me, no matter how I feel.  I allow my emotions to control my thoughts, my actions, and ultimately, my faith. 

I need to place the TRUTH about my feelings. 

THIS is the truth…

“Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.” Psalm 9:10

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9

No matter where you are in your walk, God is faithful.  Seek him through the quiet times.  Don’t let your feelings get the best of you.

Love you!

Nicole

Don't Compare

I hope y'all are enjoying our relationship series so far! This has been such a blessing to the four of us already, and we are so excited to see where God continues to lead us. I hope you will continue to follow us, and I pray that He is also speaking to you!

I am the married one among the fearless four. My husband, Josh, and I got married in May 2011, so we are still newlyweds. As we have spent the last 9 months together, God has taught me a lot about being a wife. Being a wife and girlfriend is something that is so special because we are responsible for building our men up. We are the "helpers" if you will, and we are the encouragers.

Something else that I have learned along the way is this: Every relationship is different.

This is something that we must all learn and remember constantly. How many times have you found yourself comparing you and your husband to others around you? Maybe you saw someone's status about their husband/boyfriend bringing home flowers, or they were surprised them with a weekend get away, or your friend on facebook posted pictures of their fairytale engagement. There are so many scenarios where you could look at someone else and become jealous. 

That is a dangerous place friends. Satan will take that jealousy and run with it. He will see the opportunity to increase your negativity in situations and then will bust the door down trying to make it even worse.

Let me encourage you to not go there. Don't compare your relationship with your husband/boyfriend with anyone else. Every single person is different. Every situation is different. Everyone feels loved in a different way. You can't get caught up in wishing and hoping your husband/boyfriend would do "that" for you. 

Instead, be thankful for what they do each and every day. Be thankful for that sweet smile they have on their face when you see one other. Be thankful when they randomly take you to eat somewhere, even it's McDonalds! Don't take those moments for granted because that's when you know that they care. It's when they consistently do things to show their love that you know they really do love you.

I saw this on Pinterest...

Don't let comparison steal your joy!

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that... Don't compare yourself with others." Galations 6:4 (Msg)

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Savannah 

God's Promises

Contentment.

This is a word that is far far far from how I (Jamie) am feeling. And I'm sure some of you can relate.

I tell the world "I'm okay, I don't want to be married yet anyway..."

Truth is.. I want to be married MORE than anything.

I want to be proposed to.

I WANT TO BE STRESSED OUT trying to plan my wedding.

I want to marry the man who God chose especially for me.

I want to go on a honeymoon.

I want to buy a house and DO LIFE with my husband.

I want to have kids and grow old with my best friend.

I want all of that..yet I can't have it yet.

So it makes me bitter.

It makes me mad.

It makes me think it will never happen.

WHY is it so hard to just be content with the status of our relationships? Whether we're single, have a boyfriend, are engaged, or married it seems like we're always waiting on the "next step."

"When will I find a boyfriend?"

"When will he propose?"

"When will we get married?

"When will we have babies?"

Lately I have really felt the enemy invading my relationship with Adam and making me think it was NEVER going to happen for us.

 Then I started wondering why I am so concerned with something that deep down in my heart I know that God will take care of? Why can I not just trust His plan for my life...? 

I believe in God and all of His promises.

So if God is who He says He is and can do what He has promised why am I so worried?

Why can I not just be content with the NOW?

As I was reading my bible I came across this verse that made my heart happy and made me understand that God's got this.. 

"And my God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of HIS glory in Christ Jesus" {Philipians 4:19}

According to the riches of HIS glory... not my glory, not your glory, but HIS. 

It's not easy to be okay with where you are in life, there are ALWAYS going to be times where you're waiting on the next step. but there will also be times when you are SO content and SO happy that you don't want the next step to come. 

Just hold on. Trust God. And understand that He WILL meet all of your needs. But He will meet them in HIS time. As long as Jesus is your main focus and you love Him more than anyone or anything you will be okay : ) 

Sometimes we all just need a little reminder that we're not in control.