On This Particular Saturday...

... I am attempting to recover from a blast-and-a-half party we had with our classy blood cousins last night. It wasn't necessarily a Valentine's party, other than a few of us wearing red shirts, but we had a fine time freezing while sledding, eating way too much chili, and laughing so hard that we all nearly had to go to the hospital to get our sides stitched back up.

Anywho, I hope you all had a wonderful day, and I just wanted to say again how blessed I was this past week with the Dear Love party. Sure, as the hostess, I didn't expect much from the party, but you all surprised me with your enthusiasm. I've even begun to get requests for a second party the same time next year. We'll have to see...

Just a few statistics from the week that I'd love to share with you:

9 guest posts

2 of my own posts

83 comments 

30 Google+

Over 700 views

Thank YOU for being a blessing to me! The posts are still more than open for further readings, sharings, and comments, so I encourage you to go back through the week and catch up on any posts that you might have missed!

And... I cannot end this post without bringing two giveaways to your attention...

Sink me! Hamlette of Hamlette's Soliloquy is giving away a copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982), so go HERE to check it out! 

AND... a wonderful blogging friend of mine (Rachel Heffington, by name) just published her debut novel, Fly Away Home, yesterday, and it promises to be a smashing read! She's giving away two autographed copies on her blog, so be sure to stop by!

God bless! 

Dear Love Giveaway Winner & Farewell

Well, here we are at the end, ladies. And has this been some week! First off, I'd love to thank each one of you wonderful readers and guest posters. This week wouldn't have been possible without each one of you, and I'm so grateful for the interest you put into this little scheme of mine. 

Oh, right? You'd like to know who won the giveaway? Silly me... I s'pose I should tell you. 

The winner of the Silver Love Infinity Necklace is...

Jessica Greyson!!

And the winner of the "How Deep the Father's Love" print is...

Elizabeth Anne!!

Congratulations, ladies! Please email me with your physical mailing address at liannetaimenlore(at)gmail(dot)com within 48 hours to claim your prize!

~*~*~*~*~

Now, I'm sure you all noticed that one easy entry for this giveaway was gained by your giving me a definition of true love. I didn't blindly stick that in for bonus points; there was a method to my madness. This was a party about love, TRUE LOVE, and I wanted to get as much input about love that I could. So, I had you all tell me about it. And now, I'd like to share all of that with you. 

What is true love?

Brittney Johnson
Something that lasts forever-it never dies. True love is when someone looks at an imperfect person and still loves them for all their flaws.

Brooke Jordan
True love is putting someone's needs and wants before your own.

Chloe

True love.... it's loving someone, trusting him/her unlimitedly, and protecting them from hurtful things. True love grows into a beautiful blossom.....if you really want to know what true love is, look in the Bible...there's a love story right there!

Daelynn Huber

True Love is putting someone else's needs before your own, is steadfast, is kind, is patient, does no wrong, does not waver, and True Love loves unconditionally.

Elizabeth Anne

True love is sacrificing your own wants/needs for someone else.

Eowyn

True love is God's unconditional love for us. No matter what we do, He'll still love us. And that's better than any earthly love.

Grace

True love is desiring the best for the other- that best being union with Our Lord in Heaven- even if it means denying them, and putting them before yourself.

Jessa Bri

Love is a self-sacrificing desire to meet the need of the one loved.

Jessica Greyson

True Love, is sacrifice. Putting someone before your own needs, wants and desires, with reckless regard of your own wishes and personal well being.

Khloe Grace Kendler

True love is caring more about someone else above yourself.

Lydia
True love is is sacrifice. Putting someone before your own needs, wants and desires, and putting others before yourself. God is love

Miss Melody Muffin
True love is loyalty. (more on post here)

Thank you all so much for your support of this party! I hope this was a blessing to all of you, even as it was a blessing to me! If you haven't yet read all the posts, I'd encourage you to do so! Share them with other Christian girls, and...

May God bless you this Valentine's Day as you celebrate the beauty of true love!

It Was For Me

{A post by Yours Truly}

Many, many years ago, a tiny cry was heard echoing against rough stone walls. A baby's cry, an infant barely hours old, innocent, tiny, and fragile. His mother shushed him gently, wrapping him as warmly as she could in a small, thin cloth. Nearby, the father kept a steady watch, his gaze claimed by a bright light streaming from the heavens. A cold wind whipped about him, chilling the air and dancing across the furry noses of the animals present. Yet, the mother saw and felt none of this. Her whole being was wrapped up in the wonder of the small bundle she held in her arms, the son she had been promised.

It was thirty-three years later that the same mother looked once again on the face of the son that had been given her, yet this time the wonder of the miracle was gone. In its place on her face stood pain and sorrow as she beheld him, bent and bloody, nailed to a rough piece of wood standing on a hill. For all to see and jeer at. For all to mock and spit upon. Her tears were bitter, wishing to spare him from his suffering, yet she knew there was nothing she could do. He had taken upon himself the pain he now bore, and it was of his own free will that his blood ran like water onto the ground. He could have walked away; this she knew. But he had chosen to die in such a manner, to accept the punishment that was so justly deserved by others. He had done nothing, and yet he was killed as if he was the most despicable criminal. 

I'm sure that many of you know the story I'm trying to relate, and those that do know how it ends. The Son that was given did die, His blood was shed, He bore the cruelest of sufferings, but He did not stay dead. The Almighty God raised Him from the dead three days later, and now the Son sits on God's right hand. That Son was Jesus Christ. God sent Him to earth to bear the sins of the world, and Christ came as a spotless sacrifice, One equal with God in the splendor of Heaven who denied His own comforts to live as a man. He did no evil, yet the earth despised Him, and so He was beaten and nailed to a cross. 

But the world knew not what it did, for in His death, Jesus made possible a way of salvation. The people of this world are sinful, and their sin is something God cannot look upon; and because of their sin, they must be cast out into darkness. Yet, through the sacrifice that was the death of the perfect Son of God, there can be redemption. The blood of Jesus can cover the sins of any who ask, and He waits now to offer His holy robes for the sin-spotted garments of those who seek His face.

But what does this have to do with true love, you ask? How can this possibly be relevant to Valentine's Day?

For the Dear Love party this week, I presented a number of guest posts on the topic of love. We've read about the importance of following God, the blessing of praying for your future husband, the joy of being content in our current situation, and so much more. Even though some of us may long for husbands, houses, and families right now, we are striving to sacrifice those desires to become the godly girls that God wants us to be before all of that. And that's what true love is: sacrifice. True loves sees not its own wants, but the needs of others. True love is a desire to be of use to those loved, with no thought of recompense. 

But no man can love you more than Jesus Christ. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. By giving His life for us, He gave us a chance for salvation. He had no thought for Himself, yet He loved you so much that He was willing to die so that you could receive all the benefit. He died so that you might live. 

And that's true love. 

It was for me He died, for me, He cried.

For me He shed His blood upon the tree.

It was for me He came, for me, His shame.

For me, oh praise His name, it was for me.

God bless!

Pure In The Little Things

{A post by Yours Truly}

This has been a topic long on my mind and in my prayers. For months now, I've been working on drafts of this post, and I couldn't quite seem to grasp the right words. It is a blunt topic, even given in love, but one that we, I myself greatly included, need to hear. 

I'm sure that most (if not all) of you are familiar with the term fangirling. 

The definition of "fangirl" via Pinterest 

Fangirling is simply something we pass the time with by pinning pictures, writing blog posts, emailing, having fun imagining conversations and situations, feeling our hearts go pitter-patter, etc. We create fandoms and fall in love with them so much that we're willing to do whatever possible to further their growth. We squee and gasp and facepalm and shriek and drool. 

Thank you, Sully, for the demonstration.

That's what a fangirl does. It's fun! We're nuts, and we love it! But while fangirling itself is, on the surface, a harmless pastime, it's sadly the gateway to bad things. 

Please note that I'm not entirely bashing fangirling altogether; there's just a certain type of fangirling that needs to be brought to light.

And that's the fangirling that revolves around men, actors for the most part. They play in films/shows/whatever and they bring our fandoms to life. What's wrong with that? Nothing. It's when we allow ourselves to become deeply obsessed when we start treading on dangerous territory.

When we fangirl over a picture of our favorite actor and imagine a dream wedding with him at the end of the aisle, we just gave a piece of our heart to him. When we drool over his bulging muscles and plan our kids' names, we are no longer keeping our hearts whole. With each new picture and actor and fandom, our affection grows, and our hearts we give away in tiny pieces to each new obsession. And what will we have left to offer our husbands when we spent our waiting years by handing off pieces of our hearts to different actors in the name of fangirling? That's when fangirling no longer *is* real fangirling. 

That's when it becomes lust. And we have fallen into impurity.


As Christian girls, purity is something that we claim to be of great importance. Keeping our heart solely reserved for one man is our desire. We pray about it with our parents, we pin great purity quotes on Pinterest, we email each other with encouragement. Our lives are sheltered under our parents' roofs, and we are confident nothing can compromise us. 

Yet, purity involves so much more than that. God says, He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. (Luke 16:10) We're so preoccupied with the big picture of purity that we don't realize that we might be failing in the little things. Even in as something as small as fangirling. 

Purity is keeping yourself wholly for our husbands. For one man. And that includes keeping our hearts, minds, and souls pure. Let's not give away pieces of our hearts to strange men; let's be careful with our obsessions. Let's not hand the leftover crumbles of our hearts to our husbands. Let's keep our hearts pure and WHOLE for the one man God has for us. 

Let's be pure in the little things.

God bless!

Courtship Vs. Dating {Part Two}

{A guest post by Beth Grace of Modestly Stylish}

So, in my first post {link here} of courtship and dating we covered a lot of ground. We defined what each one really was according to Webster, how marriage was included in it, the accountability factor to authority and never being alone, and the emotional roller coaster. Today's topics go a little more deep and I am just going to jump right in! 

Ready? Let's go!

Here is the biggest problem in dating and even sometimes courtship.

Get ready for it...

Physical contact.

You want to know what is causing most of your emotional feelings for each other? Yep, you got it. Now here is where I disagree with some people that are dating or even courting. With dating, Hollywood portrays physical contact as a good thing and the couple are kissing by the end of the first date. Is this acceptable?

Think of it in this way. What if you break up and don't marry the first guy or girl you hugged, held hands with, and kissed? You just treated somebody else's future husband or wife as your own. Girls, you just kissed another woman's husband. Boys, you just touched another man's wife. Even in some “courtships” the couple is allowed to hold hands or give “Christian side hugs,” but that isn't what true courtship really is. There shouldn't be any form of physical contact before you're married. There shouldn't be any when you are engaged.

I have had people tell me that it's okay to kiss and hold hands after you're engaged, in fact they said that the couple should have a little physical contact before marriage. Please, give me a biblical reference to back up that statement and then I will believe it. What happens if the engagement is broken off for some reason? Again, you treated someone else as your own spouse and you didn't marry them. It is so tempting for a couple to desire physical contact between each other, and it's hard to keep your hands to yourself, right? Even with hand holding I have seen couples act inappropriately. But it's only hand holding you say! I know, but it's all too easy to overdo it and brush up against each others' arms as you passionately hold hands. In courtship there shouldn't be any physical contact. At all. NONE. Not even after the engagement. That's a bit extreme sounding, but trust me, it should be that way. If you start with just hand holding it's exciting at first, but after a while the fervor will die off and it's suddenly no longer special. Start hugging, and after a time even that will seem boring. Enter kissing and more physical contact. And more. And then more. And then suddenly you find yourself in immorality and sin. All too many couples have tried to keep guidelines and not go too far, but the temptation of the flesh is strong. Innocent hand holding has careened into bigger immoral problems. Young adults, you need to keep yourself pure and stand strong in God. There is nothing wrong in refusing to have any physical contact before marriage. I personally have been given a hard time about waiting to save my first kiss for marriage, but girls and guys, it's worth waiting for. Don't give in. So many couples have fallen into the immoral lifestyle because they were so emotionally and physically attached to each other. They didn't necessarily have true love in a pure relationship together. If you marry someone because you feel like you are in love, than chances are you are marrying for the wrong reason. True love isn't a fancy or a feeling. Someone once told me that true love is “sacrificing your needs to meets the needs of the one loved.” People, you want an act of true love? How about Jesus taking upon the sins of the whole world and dying for us that we might be saved. We were the ones who benefited from His sacrificial actions. Therefore, if you care about a person so much, you are willing to serve them even if it won't benefit you in the process. True love is about being a servant. You care about someone so much that you are willing to serve them for the rest of your life.

Another good reason to keep your hands to yourselves during a relationship/courtship process shows character of commitment. Commitment to remain pure, commitment to resist temptation, and commitment to God.

If your partner can have commitment in this specific area it's a pretty good sign he or she will have commitment in marriage. In dating there is no commitment. The process of dating is like this: You try on one outfit and if that doesn't work you find another. And then another. This actually demonstrates a lack of faith in God and not waiting for Him to bring the right one. Instead you depend on yourself and basically try to find “the one” on your own. In the end all you have are a bunch of broken hearts and broken relationships. In courtship, because you don't physically or emotionally attach yourself to a person, you can still continue to have a friendship with them, even if the courtship doesn't continue. No regrets of any past actions.

In courtship the focus of the relationship is on the character and spiritual maturity of the potential mate. You discover whether or not your partner is ready for commitment. Before the courtship process begins you should already know if he or she is spiritually minded and mature enough to enter a committed relationship, and more importantly, marriage. Always look for what kind of character he or she has. Your attraction to someone should never be for physical appearance but rather, their character. Dating is more steered towards having fun together on social outings. Yes, you can get to know someone through it, but do you really learn to know them? If you spend a patterned habit of just having a good time together all the time, then how is that preparing you for marriage? I'm not saying that you should never have fun together, but what happens when it becomes only fun and games? Where is the practice of commitment? How is that helping your foundation for marriage? Something to think about.

So, in conclusion, which route is better? It seems more simple just to take the easy way, but is it truly worth it? What will you gain spiritually from dating? Most of the time, the right way is the hardest way. I am choosing the hard way. I believe courtship is my way to know my second true love, after God, who I pray is, and always will be, my first. I hope you will join me. 

Okay, so now you have made it through all of my ramblings and thoughts about this controversial topic. Good job to those of you who made it through all of it! Take some time to think and pray about which choice God wants you to make when it comes to true love. I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and are filled with God's unconditional love! 

About Beth Grace:
A fashionista searching for new ways to have a clean modest style, but still appear stylish -all inside God's standards! You can find her online here at Modestly Stylish. 

Courtship Vs. Dating {Part One}

{A guest post by Beth Grace of Modestly Stylish}

When people first hear the word “courtship” the first thing that is thought of is a scenario of a chaperoned couple sitting together on a loveseat in the parlor holding hands. Two words probably come to mind when seeing this picture: “old” and “fashioned.” Yes, in today's culture courtship is viewed as old fashioned and deemed out of style, and it's definitely not cool for a couple to court anymore, especially in this era. Dating is much more in practice and is the majority's choice of a romantic get together. I mean, would you seriously want to go around telling other people that you are in a courtship with someone or a relationship with someone? Culture has accepted dating as the number one way to get to know another person romantically. However, does society know just what courtship really is?

Okay, before we move on, let's get some definitions down, just so everyone knows exactly what we are talking about when I mention courtship or dating.

Webster's ever constant, never failing dictionary says that the definition for courtship is:

“The activities that occur when people are developing a romantic relationship that could lead to marriage or the period of time when such activities occur.”

All right, so courtship was for getting to know each other through a friendly relationship that could lead to marriage.

Now let's look at the definition of dating.

“An appointment to meet at a specified time; especially: a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character .”

Or:

“To do an activity with someone you have might have a romantic relationship with: to go on a date or several dates with (someone).”

So, dating is more of a social thing; you hang out with your “special someone” doing fun activities together.

Now that we have it all straightened out and no one is confused, let's move on to a deeper level and really look into what exactly courtship and dating are and compare the two, shall we?

I think the biggest difference between courtship and dating is the idea of marriage. Courtship focuses on getting to find out about someone and whether they are ready for marriage or not. The process of this takes commitment from sides and shows if each party is truly dedicated to the cause. People, if a person can portray commitment, that is a good sign he or she will have a good relationship for marriage. The couple can talk with each other and discover characteristics and qualities that would deem them fit or unfit for a relationship. Dating often involves more of a free going, fun social outing with someone else. You do get to know the person, but the process is more focused on having fun with each other rather than finding out their beliefs. It takes more effort to commit to complete a courtship while with dating you can easily pick up or break up with someone. No commitment is necessary for the latter. Girls and guys, if someone can't commit to a relationship, than that's a huge sign that they might have trouble to committing to other things ( i. e. marriage, purity, etc.) If they can't commit to you, then can they commit to God? 

Courtship involves accountability. Wherever the couple goes there is always a third party present. They are never alone together anywhere at anytime. This “old-fashioned” idea of a chaperone is actually more helpful than we think and may preserve the couple's character. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 tells us to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” Never being alone together will keep others from thinking badly or making assumptions about a couple. Be smart and don't give others the opportunity to present immoral ideas about you. Dating, on the other hand, has no accountability. Sorry, but it's true. When you go out on a date, it's just you and your special someone. Alone. Yes, you may go to a public area together, but there isn't anyone there who knows you and can hold you accountable for your actions. Here's another problem I have with dating. You have to ride alone in the car together wherever you go. Can you be accountable to anyone for that? It's not smart to be alone with your romantic interest before you're married. Temptations will arise. However, it is always safe to have a third party with you so you are never tempted to be immoral or have false accusations made against you. Avoid from looking sinful. If there is a chance the situation could give people the wrong idea about you, then don't do it. With courtship you are always chaperoned and always held accountable for what you do. You are never alone with him or her at anytime. Ever. 

So, part of the accountability of a courtship is to others, and now, part two of accountability is to the authority. You are held accountable to your parents, and more importantly you are held accountable before God. This goes along with avoiding all appearance of evil. Don't let anyone be able to say anything against you that won't glorify God. I Corinthians 10:13 tells us we need to give all the glory to God. When we aren't held accountable for any of our actions, will others be thinking thoughts about you that will be glorifying God? Probably not.

While dating is usually just two people alone, courtship involves others. The couple dating likes their private time alone and often don't include others in their relationship.

Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” Not sure what that means? Here, let me put it in a more simpler form and say it this way: “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” You need to be including others' advice in your relationship -especially your parents or the biggest authority over you, God. You and your boyfriend/girlfriend need to remember the world doesn't revolve around you two when you are a couple. So many couples are guilty of that and forget that anyone else exists. Sometimes, it is wise to listen to others and include them -especially God. The courting process always has both families involved as the two young people are spending time together (chaperoned, of course). More specifically, the parents are involved. Even before the courtship can begin between to young people, the boy needs to ask the girl's father for permission to court her. Listen up, girls! If a guy asks your dad first for permission when he is interested in you than that is a huge sign he probably respects authority. Both sets of parents should always, always be included. Take advice from them and, more importantly, from God. Courtship should always be a Christ centered relationship; keep God first and foremost. Spending time together should bring you closer to God -even more than each other. 

Dating rides on the emotional waves while courtship avoids it completely. When you date someone you can become emotionally attached and have “feelings” for them. This is what the world defines as true love. Suddenly these gushy emotions you experience inside can convince you that you're in love. Girls, every time you look at the boy you like, your heart leaps a little and you have butterflies in your stomach. Are you experiencing true love? Sadly, the answer is no. What culture says is love, is what God calls work of the flesh. Wow, that's pretty condemning. The sappy feelings that are piling up inside of you aren't true love. These emotions make YOU feel good when you are in the company of your special someone. True love isn't based on benefiting you! Get over it. When dating, you and your boyfriend or girlfriend make professions of love to each other and talk intimately about each others' wishes and dreams. While you need to get to know someone, private talk about these things shouldn't be shared with anyone but kept safe for your wife or your husband some day.

Girls and boys, don't tell every one you date for which your heart yearns. If you keep this practice up with everyone you go out with, suddenly you have given all these people a piece of your heart. So much for saving it all for your husband or wife. With courtship all emotional attachment is avoided and more time is spent conversing about beliefs, likes, and interests. Not about sharing intimate feelings with each other. Oh, and flirting isn't allowed. Courtship focuses more on the spiritual aspects of a relationship with each other. 

Well, that's all for now, folks! Part Two coming up in the very near future, so stay tuned as we delve deeper into more courtship/dating conversation during our "Dear Love" week here at Lianne Taimenlore! Happy Valentine's Day!

About Beth Grace:
A fashionista searching for new ways to have a clean modest style, but still appear stylish -all inside God's standards! You can find her online here at Modestly Stylish. 

What Is The Definition Of True Love?

{A guest post by Melody Muffin of The Splendor Falls On Castle Walls}

What, to me, is the definition of true love?

For me, true love, especially pertaining to a romantic relationship, is not the emotional feeling that sweeps you along and makes you feel that if you don't see the other person soon and/or often you will die.  That is passion.

It isn't the feeling that the other person is the best person in the world, or the prettiest, the most handsome, talented, cool, etc.

Love is a meeting of two souls, fully accepting the dark and the light within each other and bound by the courage to grow through struggle into bliss. ~ Jackson Kiddard

True love is seeing a person's good points, yes.  But it is also caring so deeply about that person that you are willing to accept their faults with their talents.  It is knowing that despite the storms that will come, the relationship you have together will weather each one and will be worth every one of them.  It is the feeling that you won't be alone, no matter what comes.  That even when you argue or disagree on something, you still care deeply for each other.  You won't betray each other, you won't leave each other.  You will walk through each and every storm knowing that it will end at some point and you will come out on the other side stronger than before.  It is the feeling of having your true best friend beside you every step of the way- in the good and the bad, the trials and the joys, the shadows and the sunshine.  It is knowing that no matter how much you love each other, God loves each of you more, and your love for him binds you closer to each other.  No longer are you two separate identities traveling the same road, you are two people bound into one joint partnership identity.  It is loyalty, fidelity, trust, and faith.

Loyalty means nothing unless it has at it's heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice. ~ Woodrow Wilson

Loyalty

Look not for beauty nor for the color of skin;

But look for the heart that is loyal within.

For beauty will fade and skin will grow old,

But the heart that is loyal will never grow cold.

French philosopher Albert Camus (and just so you know, I don't endorse most of his work) once wrote, 'Do not walk behind me; I may not lead.  Do not walk in front of me; I may not follow.  Just walk beside me and be my friend.'  I believe this kind of relationship should be the core of romantic love.  Just to clarify, yes, I believe in a Biblical line of authority and all that, but that's not what I'm talking about here.  I'm not talking about how the decision making chain should work, I'm talking about how the interpersonal relationship should work.

That is what true love means to me.

I can't write a post on the definition of true love without at least mentioning the iconic 'love verses' of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8.  They are iconic for a reason.  And I mention them for two reasons.  First of all, they ARE God's definition of true love.  And secondly....

I use the King James Version of the Bible.  The original Greek New Testament used the word 'agape' in these verses.  Most versions of the Bible translate that word as 'love' but the KJV translates it as 'charity'.  At the time the KJV was translated, the word 'charity' did not mean what it does today.  The New Oxford American Dictionary gives the archaic meaning of 'charity' as: love of humankind; typically in a Christian context.  That is a broader meaning than can be conveyed by simply using our English word 'love'.

From God's lips to our ears - what love means:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity never faileth.

God's blessings and true love to all of you!

About Melody: 

First and foremost a Christian, Melody is a voracious reader and is rather passionate about writing. She is a costume, history, drama and literature geek, and loves horses and -for the most part- dislikes cleaning house. Being the oldest girl and second eldest child of 12 keeps her pretty busy, but she still finds time to blog over at The Splendor Falls On Castle Walls.

Don't Forget!

No, this isn't part of the scheduled posts for the Dear Love party, but I just wanted to remind you all to get your entries in for the giveaway! I will be announcing the winners on Friday, the 14th! Please enter and share! 

If, for some reason, you've decided against entering the giveaway and haven't answered my question from before, I'd still like you all to answer this in a comment below:

What is true love?

And on a side note, Jessica Greyson had a fairy tale valentine contest last week (which I entered), and now's the time to vote for the winner! I won't badger you to vote for mine *cough* but the valentines are all spiffy, so you should go over to Safirewriter and check them all out. Thanks!

God bless!

Joyful Now, Not "One Day"

{A guest post by Lauriloth of Musings Of An Elf}

It happens from the very beginning. We gather our dolls and stuffed animals, dressing them all up for the big "wedding" of Mr. and (soon to be) Mrs. Bear. We borrow Mother's dresses and have a make-believe ceremony under the tree in the backyard. As we get older we get even more serious about it. We hear a song that would be perfect for the big day. We make pinterest boards to plan out our entire wedding. (Yes, I have one of those.) We wonder how many kids we'll have and already start naming them, middle names included. (I already have some of those too.) From the time we even know what marriage really is, we begin dreaming about our own, yearning for it, even sometimes obsessing over the idea.

Marriage is a very big part of life, and as girls we cannot help but crave the idea of having a male companion by our side and loving us for the rest of our lives, of having our own home, children to care for, and let's not forget that big, fabulous wedding to start out that new, wonderful life. It's an exciting thought. What girl doesn't dream of that day? Wonder who "the one" will be? Hope that he'll come soon?

I'm guilty of all of this. Probably the guiltiest. And the older I get, the worse it gets. "I'm going to be an old maid!" "I'll be single forever!" My overdramatic mind moans these thoughts on a regular basis. My life cannot even begin until I'm married, right?

"But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God..."
(Matthew 6:33)

Wait a minute, that's right. My life isn't about waiting around until I'm married, it's about glorifying God's kingdom.

I spend so much of these single years yearning for marriage. I always have so many plans for when that time comes, so many exciting things I want to do. But why can I not DO now? This is the very time to DO!

Whether you're male, female, single, or married, your purpose in this life is to bring God glory. God has each of us exactly where He wants us to be. He means for us all to continually DO His work, focusing on the here and now, not longing for some "magical" future. Singleness especially is a blessed time to do God's work.

"There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband."
(1 Corinthians 7:35)

Marriage brings on a huge set of responsibilities that keep us from doing what we're able to during these single years. There is so much potential to let God do magnificent things through us while we have these free, youthful years. We cannot waste them being discontent with our singleness. Discontentment only brings despair. Contentment and happiness does not come from marriage, it comes from God. Our joy comes from doing God's work.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 
(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Not only that, but how can we ever be ready for marriage if we're not growing in our relationship with our True Love. Doing His services and ever increasing our relationship with Him will prepare us to be good wives and mothers, far better than spending our days planning our wedding on pinterest. If we are not learning to use each day in service to our Lord now, how can we ever get into the practice of it during the hectic days of marriage and being a parent? NOW is the time to equip ourselves for His ministry, for getting into the habit of continuously serving Him.

These are precious years of our lives, years that should never be wasted dreaming of the "one days".

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 
(Philippians 3:14)

God has given us a high calling. He desires for us to press toward that mark, every minute of every day. Our joy is in Him, and each day we press towards glorifying His kingdom, we will find more and more joy to be had.

"Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
(Psalm 37:4)

Let's not sit around waiting for our prince charming. Jesus Christ IS our Prince Charming. Whatever hopes and dreams we may have are nothing compared to the glorious plan He has for our lives. All we have to do is rise and follow Him, here and now, and He will be our happily ever after.

Don't forget who your First and True Love is.

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)

About Lauriloth:
A homeschool graduate of 2010, Lauriloth may or may not be slightly obsessed with Elves and Lord of the Rings. "Lauriloth" means Shining Golden Flower in Tolkien's Elven language. She is a born again Christian, and loves spending her time reading and writing fantasy. Although she does spend an excess amount of time doting over her poodle, Navi, Lauriloth loves to be random and strives to be unique.