MY NOT SO SECRET MARRIAGE

I often wondered when would be the perfect time to tell everyone, I'm married. It happened not to long ago when I was struggling trying to figure out what my next move was going to be. I was trying to make many complex decisions and I remember sitting down at the library and reading the back of a woman's shirt.

It read:

Jeremiah 

29.V:11

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I've been worried about my future ALOT  lately and truly understanding how exactly  am I going to fulfill my purpose on this earth. We often look to school to validate us, we look to people to advise us on what career choice will be best, and we even pray for God to open up doors that no man can shut. 

Yet, rarely do we spend enough time with God for him to reveal our purpose to us. We go to college, accumulate debt for a degree because it is what our  parents always dreamed. 

But...

 Our Ways are Not His Ways

 In my quiet time with the Lord, I sense Him tugging on my heart to do something that I am honestly afraid to do. I am afraid of disappointing other people but I know that one day I will be held accountable for my actions on this earth.  And if I were truly honest, I'd say I'm even afraid of looking a bit crazy. 

1 Samuel 15:22

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

SO..

                                                               Who accepts this charge?

Who will listen and obey His commands?

Who will boldly serve others?

I DO!

As Facebook timelines are filled with budding relationships, engagements, and beautiful wedding pictures, don't get distracted. Your desire for marriage is healthy but your relationship with God is more important. You will never be free to love until you have encountered the author of LOVE. You will NEVER be truly fulfilled until you have discovered what He has purposed you to do.  I encourage you to fall madly in love with LOVE because He will never fail you and He will always lead you in the right direction. 

Game Time: What Happens When We Mess Up?

Dating or Courtship is like practicing for the big game of marriage. When you practice together you begin to see your teammates strengths and weaknesses. Practice does not always make perfect but practice definitely makes progress. It is very important that I tell you that the habits you develop as a single person will effect your future relationship. I always wondered why people would always say to me, 

"The best time to prepare for marriage is as a single." 

On Our Way to Copa America 2016

Now, I know WHYYYYY!

If you know you have a habit of: anger, depression, anxiety, flirtation, juggling multiple relationships of the opposite sex, dramatics, lying, cheating etc, it would be wise to work on those things before getting into a relationship. 

Copa America Brazil vs. Haiti

The truth is that if you have practiced these habits in your singleness then this is what you will eventually perform in your relationship. In a relationship, you will start to get to know the real person and that perfect person you always dreamed of starts to show their TRUE COLORS. Only over time  will you learn their weaknesses and watch them make mistakes.  

WARNING: You Will HURT Each OTHER! 

When people hurt me, I am often encouraged by Isaiah 2:22, "Don't put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath." When you fall in LOVE it is so easy to make your relationship or you boo your IDOL! God is still JEALOUS for you and He will quickly show you that the one you love will fail you. NO HUMAN being is perfect but there is a perfect God.

But if it is really LOVE you will know because... 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

My favorite part is LOVE endures ALL things! If you are equally yoked with a believer and they do something out of line. Utilize the Word of God, Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

Proud Haiti Fans

You can not change your boo but  God can. It is your job to pray for them to  cast all your cares unto the Lord , because the truth is God cares about what is going on.   It is your job to know they are NOT perfect but to love them in spite of because that is how Christ loves you. When things go wrong in your relationship don't blast it on social media, don't drown your ears in secular music and don't respond emotionally. 

This fight is SPIRITUAL! 

 Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Learning each other and developing together is not for the faint at heart. I know I am not a perfect being and I have made many mistakes and will continue to make many more, but I can rest knowing that His Grace is sufficient, Love Endures All, and if I listen and obey the Holy Spirit.. everything will be alright.   

I am sure that Haiti knew that they were going to lose against Brazil, but that did NOT keep them from playing.  In your relationship you will lose sometimes but stay in the game, don't give up, keep practicing! Things will get better and you will get STRONGER! 

Team BVG: Graduation #1

If there is one thing I admire about my best friend it is his desire for knowledge. There are not too many people I know  in this world that move to a foreign country, learn a new language and graduate with their GED in a year. He is now enrolled in college for FALL 2016!

I feel like a very proud mother.

I believe that beside every truly successful man is a praying woman. I pray that the Lord directs his path and that he does not lean on his own understanding but is led by the Holy Spirit in ALL things.  His future is brighter than the sun and I have no doubt that he will go far. 

• I've witnessed him  work very late nights at the Magic Kingdom and wake up very early for school.
• I've watched him serve and provide for his family while balancing many different things.
• I've been by his side to celebrate  3 out of 4 test victories for this day to be possible, so of course I had to record it!

 I have no idea what God has for the next season but I've got my front row seat to help him and support him in any way that I can. 

Proud Mom Section