Barbara’s Story (might surprise you!)

Hey, everyone! Hope your week is going well…

Recently, I shared my story of meeting Mr. Right. (Worth the Wait) Could any of you relate to the things I was feeling on my journey?

As promised, here is my mom’s story.   Hers might REALLY surprise you! Let’s just say it involves some eloping, soul searching, and finding love like no other…

Hope our stories remind you that others have gone through the very things you face, that you are not alone…

If you have a moment, comment on this post and share what parts of our stories you liked best!

Praying for you this week!

Much love,

Lisa

Worth the Wait (a.k.a. my story)

Hey, everyone!

Hope you had a fabulous spring break! My family and I did (even though much of it was spent spring cleaning!)

This week I’m sharing  my story of meeting Mr. Right. (It’s been awhile, and I thought those of you new to the blog might enjoy reading it.)

Next week, I’ll post my mom’s story as well.  (Hers might really surprise you! ; )

May reading about our journeys to love encourage you with your own love story (whether you see it yet or not.)

Have a great week, and happy reading!

Much love,

Lisa

Girls are Girls!

Last weekend I met a woman who raved about her favorite book (seriously, she couldn’t have given a more glowing review), so today I went online to check it out. I found a program that lets you listen to books for free, so I took a few minutes to listen to the first chapter. Like our novels with Julia, the main character is completely honest about what’s going on in her heart. (One of my favorite things about Julia, actually!)

In this novel, the sixteen-year-old main character writes in her journal about scrambling to get ready on time in the morning (her sister probably misplacing her things as usual), her impatience with her mom (who seems to scold a lot), and her impatience with herself (since she’s so well-meaning, yet still fights a bad attitude and makes so many mistakes!) She’s honest about jealously guarding her best friend, being afraid to share her with other girls in class lest she lose that close friendship. She’s extremely candid about her relationship with God being important to her, yet a struggle at times, and she wonders if she’s really loving God the way she deep down wants to…

I found this pretty fascinating, not just because it had a lot of similarities to the Mr. Right Series, but because this book was written in 1869!!!

Sometimes we look back at that time as so much simpler, with less complicated problems. (Hard work? Yes! But there were no mean Facebook comments or embarrassing moments captured on camera.) Yet reading this, I’m reminded that girls are girls, no matter when we were born! We are incredibly complex and often find ourselves wrestling with the inner “stuff,” trying to figure out who we are, who God has created us to be, wondering if we really measure up.

But the truth is you do measure up! Why? Because once you accept Jesus, God sees you through the lens of His perfect Son!

Your Heavenly Father has known you from the very beginning and has created you so beautiful, so valuable, purposely designed with special gifts and talents. He has a plan for your life that will truly amaze you if you’ll trust and let Him lead you into it.

Do we all have our moments of questions, fears, or self-doubt? Absolutely! But that’s why we run to the One who is higher than we are, who really does have everything all figured out!

Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever…Psalm 138:7-8a

Hope this encourages you today, beautiful girls!

You are so incredibly loved!

Lisa

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All paired up???

When we’re waiting for Mr. Right to come into our life, it can feel like everyone else around us is already “paired” up. Julia certainly felt that way after her break up with Jay. In fact, in novel 2, she and her sister-in-law, Jenny, have a conversation about it. Julia shares her frustrations, and Jenny has some great advice to help her.

At one point Julia says, “I’m really self-conscious because I don’t have a boyfriend. Even though I understand all the reasons why I’m waiting for the right guy, others don’t. When I get back to school in the fall, people might think something’s wrong with me because I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Ever felt that way? See how Jenny responds below:

“Let them, Julia. It’s a waste of time worrying about the opinions of others, especially when those people don’t even care about you. Look around and you’ll see lots of girls who aren’t dating anyone. Remember, you can always find somebody to go out with—especially if you are willing to give him whatever he wants.”  Yet is that the relationship Julia really wants? (Check out their whole conversation in chapter 3 of novel 2, Meeting Mr. Right.)

I want to encourage you today that it’s not about having a boyfriend because someone else does. It’s about being where you should be in God’s plan for your life.

I remember coming home from college majorly disappointed I hadn’t met my husband yet. If I couldn’t meet him at college with thousands of guys, how would I meet him teaching high school near my much smaller hometown?

It wasn’t until after I was engaged to Eric a few years later that I realized the “why” I hadn’t met my man in college.  It was because he wasn’t there!

God knew the right time for Eric and me to meet, and it all worked out in His plan for both of our lives. (I even got to travel and have some cool experiences before committing to be a wife and mom.)

Now I’m thankful I didn’t come away from college with that boyfriend I wanted so much. Eric was definitely worth the wait!

So know that God knows the right time and place for you to meet your Mr. Right. (We all have our own life stories, with unique details, so the timing and place is different for all of us.)

You can be confident that as you trust your Heavenly Father, your special love story will unfold in a beautiful way!

Much love,

Lisa

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Not Alone

When we’re going through our “stuff” in life, it can feel like we’re all alone, the only one to go through something this difficult or painful. But really, lots of other women have.

I’m always amazed when I talk with teens & women who’ve read our Mr. Right Series novels, how many have gone through the same things as Julia and her friends. Many have said to me, reading Julia’s story was like reading my own. (Maybe not each detail of her story, but parts that really struck a chord with the reader.) One girl (from Project Inspired’s book club) wrote, “I am 100% Julia…”

So, when you read our novels, did you see yourself in any of those pages? Did you relate to Julia or any of the other characters? Did they encourage you that you are not alone in the issues you face? That life happens to all of us? Even Jesus had to deal with temptation and pain while He lived here on the earth! He knows just how to help us with ours.

If you’re going through a tough time or difficult issue, reach out! There are others around you who have fought similar battles. They have hearts that genuinely understand what you’re dealing with and can share how they made it through.

If you aren’t fighting any current battles, reach out to others who are! We need each other in life, to believe in one another, stand side-by-side, overcome difficulties together, and get to the places God has prepared for each of us.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12.

When life gets hard, please don’t think you’re alone. You’re not! You are precious to your Heavenly Father. He has you in the palm of His hand, and if you let Him, He’ll bring the comfort and answers you need to navigate rough waters. God believes in you! My mom and I believe in you! And if you’ll reach out to people around you, you’ll see that others believe in you, too…

What do we often remind you on this blog? A very important truth: You are loved, and you are not alone!

Praying for you,

Lisa

Is Valentine’s Day for you???

So Valentine’s Day is coming next week, and for some of us, that makes us smile as we anticipate eating chocolate, going out, or watching cheesy Hallmark movies. Others of us may just roll our eyes and dread the holiday that seems to be for everybody else.

I read through various opinions on the possible origins of Valentine’s Day (some pretty crazy, some pretty sweet). Here’s an excerpt from an article I stumbled upon, written a year ago (2/14/12) by Barbara Biziou of the Huffington Post:

Another example of this comes from a legend. In the 3rd century, the Roman Emperor Claudius II thought marriage was not good for war since men wanted to stay home with their wives, so he outlawed marriage. At the time there was a Christian priest named Valentine who felt sorry for the couples and married people in secret. When Claudius found out, he threw Valentine in jail and executed him on Feb. 14. Before his death however, Valentine wrote a letter to the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend and signed it from your Valentine.

I loved this legend because the focus was a little different from what we usually expect. It was about reaching out to a friend who had been there for you. Most of us can relate to that.

So this Valentine’s Day, be encouraged that if you have a friend, you have reason to celebrate! And best of all, Jesus is a friend who is always there for you.

Love you, beautiful girls!

Lisa

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Hope so!

Never underestimate the power of hope. It can change everything! (And sustain you while things begin to change—first in ways you cannot see, then in ways you can!) Hang in there this week, no matter what you’re facing…

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 (NKJ) …the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11 (NLT)

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)

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Whew!!!

The holidays are now in full swing, and with them bring lots of emotions and introspection. What’s this season really all about? What’s really important in my life? What do I really value? Am I on track to seeing my dreams come true?

Because we all have dreams, big and small. Some of them seem so close, we can almost reach out and touch them. Others seems so far out of reach, we wonder if they will ever actually happen (like I talked about with my experience in last week’s post).

I want to encourage you today that God hears your prayers! Just because you may not see the answer yet, please don’t assume that your prayers are not being answered.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. Psalm 138 :2b-3 (NLT)

Wow! As soon as we pray, God answers us! Yet oftentimes we look around and assume God hasn’t answered our prayers because there is no apparent change. But I promise you, God is working on your behalf in ways you cannot see, opening doors for you, preparing opportunities for you, moving key people into position, and preparing your own heart for what He has planned.

Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:7-8 (NLT)

Let these Scriptures encourage you today! God will work out His plans for our lives as we continue to trust and move forward. And He loves to blow us away with His goodness!

Much love,
Lisa

The Letter

I have to pinch myself that I’ve been married to my Mr. Right for 15 years now.

Even so, I remember what is was like to not have someone in my life, wondering if it would happen for me. I remember being on a continual roller coaster, enjoying the highs of It’s awesome trusting God for my love story!!! only to plummet into the depths of Why in the world is it taking so long? Is the right guy even out there???   It was easy to start comparing my experience with other women’s, to get discouraged (whether I was observing those who were still waiting like me or those who had already met their husbands). My poor mother! How many times did she say something encouraging to me only to have me roll my eyes and answer, Yeah, but you’re already married!

One day I realized something I had never considered before: my story had nothing to do with anyone else’s. It was between me and God, dependent on His character and my own faith that He would take care of my heart issues in His timing (whether or not I understood or liked it!) Inspired, I wrote out a bunch of Scriptures on index cards and taped them to my bedroom mirror. When I started to get down, I’d walk to that mirror and remind myself of God’s promises and faithfulness, despite my feelings at the time. That helped so much. Instead of fighting off discouraged feelings with powerless ideas (non-Biblical ones, I might add, like When you don’t want it, that’s when it comes! or other such nonsense well-meaning people would say), I fought feelings with truth. And the more I read those Scriptures aloud, the more I began to truly believe them.

Even so, one day I was especially disheartened. My dreams seemed so far away and out of reach. So I decided to do something to show my faith was bigger than my doubts: I wrote a letter to my children. (Yes, the ones I was still hoping to have one day. : ) I explained to them that I knew what it was like to have to fight for a dream, to have to believe when it looks like nothing is changing. I reminded them that the fact that they were reading this letter proved the faithfulness of God. Apparently, I had met and married their father just as I’d hoped and prayed for all those years. I then put that letter in my memory box, to save for them.

I relayed this story to my kids recently, and we ran to my memory box (which I’ve carefully transported from house to house through the years, as we’ve moved A LOT). Sure enough, there was my letter I had written so long ago, sealed up and ready for my kids if they come to me one day, discouraged about their own dreams. (That’s my letter in the pic above. I guess I was in a Spanish mood when I sealed the envelope. It says, “A letter for my precious children.”)

Why did I share this story today? Because I happened to notice the date on the outside of the envelope…I had written it on Christmas Eve.

And I was reminded that for some of you, the holidays are completely fun, festive, and full of joy! That’s awesome! But for others, the next few weeks may be filled with painful reminders that your dreams are still on the way.

Please take heart that your dreams are on the way! They are very special to God’s heart as you walk out His plan for your life. God cares about the anguish of your soul, and He will perfect that which concerns you! I pray that as you spend some special time in His presence this season (worshiping, reading His Word, and praying), you’ll receive all the love, peace, and strength you need to not only get through the holiday season, but actually enjoy it!

Love you much! You are in my prayers!

Lisa

Today? I can do that!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed about making good choices? Choices in relationships, with your body, with your mind, with your future?

Have you looked ahead and thought, To get to my dreams, I have to make the right choices for the next 5 to 10 years! I’m not sure I can make it!

Well, don’t worry! It doesn’t have to be that hard!

Simply start by focusing on your relationship with God and His plans for you. Let them become important to you. You are a beautiful, critical part of the Father’s master plan; your life counts! So dream big! And be intentional with your God-dreams, each step of the way.

But don’t put undo pressure on yourself. You don’t have to focus on making all the right choices for the next 5 or 10 years…That’s crazy pressure! Instead focus on this thought: You only have to make the right choices today!

And when you wake up tomorrow, you can remind yourself again, With God’s help, I only have to make the right choices today!

Whew! That’s way more manageable!

Did you know that Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow, that today has enough for us to deal with? (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

I love how the Message Bible paraphrases that verse:

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 (Message)

Set goals. Dream dreams. Be intentional with your life and the choices you need to make to get where your heart deep down wants to go. But as far as pressure goes, we only need to concern ourselves with each day as it comes. As we stay close to the Father, we just have to ask, Lord, help me make the right choices today. And He will!

As we focus on one day at a time, we can do well for 5 or 10 years, even a lifetime, in God’s plan for us!

Does that mean we’ll be perfect? Nope. But we will be in a much better place to learn, grow, and make progress—and to avoid mistakes that leave big scars. We’ll be on a much safer path to seeing our dreams actually come true. And the best part? We’ll be closer to our Lord and Savior than ever.

So, as we continue our “won’t assume” series, let’s not assume we have the pressure to make all the right choices for years and years. Just let God help you with your choices today, and watch Him blow you away with His goodness over time!

Love you! Have a great week!

Lisa

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