A Gentle Reminder of Beauty and Romance

Ok so this is going to be long I think, but I read this in a little book by Stasi Eldredge, and well she does such a wonderful job of talking about our desires and our beauty, and well I just want to remind all of you, because I find myself needing to be reminded, I mean it is why we watch fairy tales, chick-flicks, and read romantic stories....because we need to be reminded. Then after he has called us to be romanced by him, then and only then can he lead us down the path of our calling, to our role, and to our need. I think that she writes this beautifully.

Every song you love, every memory you cherish, every moment that has moved you to holy tears, all have been given to you from the one who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart. God's version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners comes in the form of sunsets and falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies, warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens and fierce devotion.

This is immensely personal. God's romantic gifts will be specifically for your heart. He knows what takes your breath away, knows what makes your heart beat faster. We have missed many of his love notes simply because we shut down our hearts in order to endure the pain of life. Now, in our healing journey as women, we must open our hearts again and keep them open. Not foolishly, not to anyone and anything. But yes, we must choose to open our hearts again so that we might hear his whispers.

Reading George MacDonald several years ago I came across an astounding thought. You've probably heard that in every human heart there is a a place that God alone can fill. (Lord knows we've tried to fill it with everything else to our utter dismay). But the old poet was saying that there is also in God's heart a place that you alone can fill. "It follows that there is also a chamber in God himself, into which non can enter but the one, the individual." You. You are meant to fill a place in the heart of God that no one and nothing else can fill.

Some of us are called to the mission field overseas. Some of us are called to the marketplace here. Some will be nurses, doctors, mothers, midwives, counselors, artists, interior decorators, engineers, lawyers, poets...you name it! But each one of us is called to become an ezer--a life-offering, lifesaving woman--who lives in her unique calling and offers her glory to the world and for the glory of God. A life that flows out of our intimacy with Jesus.

You have a role to play. You have a high and holy calling.

Whether it is holding the hand of kindergartners as they begin their journeys into school or holding the hands of the elderly. You have a vital role to play. As a a woman.

Life is holy. Every moment. God is present in your car as he is in the sanctuary. He is busy about his kingdom work in your church as he is in your office. Whether you're in the worship service or in the line at the grocery store, it matters. The mountaintops as well as the mundane. It is in the everyday tasks, the miniscule decisions, the unseen actions and the millions of choices that are ours to make every single day that the Kingdom of God advances or retreats. It all matters.

Whatever your particular calling, you are meant to grace the world with your dance, to follow the lead of Jesus wherever he guides you. He will lead you first into himself, and from that intimacy he will lead you into the world that he loves and came to save. He needs you. We need you.

And lastly for you to love with an awakened heart and play the role that is yours to play, for you to live intimacy with Jesus, you must take care of your heart. Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life!

This is from a book called Your Captivating Heart by Stasi Eldredge, which I believe is a version of Captivating. Regardless it spoke to me, and well it never hurts to be reminded of the beautiful romance of life we live out daily.

I love you all!

Caro