"Living Together.....Right or Wrong?"

Maybe I can be a voice to that "one person" as they say.......
A voice that tells you simply  - - It is NOT acceptable, permissable, alright, excused, or okay for you to live with your boyfriend/girlfriend before or out of marriage. Although this world has somehow blindly come to accept that it is......God does not. WHY has this act become a situation that is so permissable and accepted as a normal way of life today?? WHY are the churches not loudly proclaiming to every adult - "You don't live together before you are married!" ??

For years I have cried out - "Someone PLEASE tell my children this is not an acceptable way of life. It dishonors God and the act of marriage He has ordained." And not let it just be me, my husband, and their grandmother. But sadly......no one does. That hurts like a hurt that can't be explained. So, if I can be that voice in the wilderness- and God allows me to be - then maybe you will read this and understand why it isn't okay anymore.

You may be asking "Well who are YOU to be making such bold decisions of what is right and wrong in this world??" And my answer to you would be "I am no one especially chosen to enlighten the world of it's wrongdoing. Rather, I am a Mother who loves her children deeply. A Mother that longs to see her children make godly decisions in their life, and follow the One true God Who loves them more than I ever could. A Mother who has read God's Words."

You see....God has made this decision that it is wrong and not this Mother.
Find a Bible and look up these verses along with me so that you too can see: Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." No where does it say that a man shall leave his father and mother and move in with his girlfriend before she becomes his wife. No, rather it says a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife. That same verse orginated from the beginning of time, with Adam and Eve as the first ones being told this in Genesis 2:24.

Living together before the thought of marriage....or not......only invites tremendous temptation that you are placing yourself in. The Bible tells us to flee temptation - And that temptation being sex before marriage - and not to continually expose ourself to temptation. 1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body." 
You see, premarital sex is wrong in all matters and is repeatedly condemned in scripture alone with all sexual immorality. "The Bible promotes complete abstinence outside of (and before) marriage. Sex before marriage is just as wrong as adultery and other forms of sexual immorality, because they all involve having sex with someone you are not married to." 

Ephesians 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."

1 Thessalonians 4:3 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality."

Colossians 3:5-7 "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these in the life you once lived." 

1 Corinthians 6:13 "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."
verse 19 and 20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whome you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." 

Galatians 5:19 "The acts of a sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery." 

"The Greek word translated “sexual immorality” or “fornication” in these verses is porneia (from which we get the English word pornography), and it means literally “unlawful lust.” Since the only form of lawful sexuality is the marriage of one man and one woman Genesis 2:24 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.";Matthew 19:5 ""For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.", then anything outside of marriage, whether it is adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, or anything else, is unlawful, in other words, sin. Living together before marriage definitely falls into the category of fornication—sexual sin."

"Hebrews 13:4 describes the honorable state of marriage: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” This verse draws a clear distinction between that which is pure and honorable—marriage—and that which is sexually immoral—anything outside of marriage. As living together outside of marriage falls into this category, it is definitely sin. Anyone living together outside of lawful marriage invites the displeasure and judgment of God.

If this is your path that you have chosen PLEASE, PLEASE know this.....God forgives, God heals, God restores. I know this to be O so true in my very own life, for I am by no means perfect and have made many wrong choices. In 1 John 1:9 God tells us of His forgiveness "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness." Romans 4:7 also reminds us of God's great forgiveness "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." 

Young adult.....adult......won't you make the right choice today and start following God's Word to live a life that is set apart from this world -"As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and commitment.

Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

"Being “in” the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the worship of God."

And isn't it what this life is all about?? 

Worship....worship to a God Who has given His ALL for us. 

Father, thank you for allowing me to write this today for you....for I do NOT choose to speak with my own authority or voice.....but in and through yours. May this Blog touch one, a few, or many who may have strayed and need simple guidance back to you and your truths. 

I love you always......

"Look What I Can Do.....Thank You David!"

And so it is that I'm back once again doing what my heart loves.....writing. And through that writing - -sharing and encouraging (hopefully) others with God's love, God's blessings, God's faithfulness and life in it's realness. :)

My life, as it looks today, is winding down a journey.

A journey that has had laughter, smiles, happiness, amazement, thankfulness, surprises, love, joy, accomplishments, togetherness.......as well as tears, anger, frustration, disappointment, fear, impatience, and non-comprehension. I speak of the words - raising children.

You see, our youngest child, who is Levi, will be 18 in less than 2 weeks, and graduating 7 weeks after that.  Our second child, who is Savannah, will be walking the aisle in marriage in 6 weeks. And our oldest, who is Heather, is on God's timetable to make straight her paths. If you would, please pray for each of our children for they truly need it.....and who of us doesn't?

And so that brings my journey - as Mom - to a close. I know you're going to say "You never stop being a Mom." and that would be correct. But, I don't believe everyone is called to keep being the "Mom" you were the first 18 years of their lives. Instead I see it as I step out of their lives.....letting go of all preconceived ideas that I have ever had any power to stop what they chose to do or not do.....continue to trust and pray that God has his own timetable and plans of turning them each one back to him.....asking him to stand the TRUTH, his truth, so firmly planted undeniably in front of them that they cannot see around it or through it and must deal with it in God's way and not their own..........

AND.........

I CONTINUE ON loving the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and strength.....and loving the beautiful gift of his love to me through my beautiful husband, David!!! 

My life started, almost 48 years ago, with God. And almost 27 years of those 48, God brought along my David to join me in this wonderful adventure we call LIFE. And so it is.....my life will begin and end with God and my David. Yes, added blessings along our adventure that we call children.....and hopefully someday called GRANDchildren. But nonetheless.....my life is......God and then my David. And I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

I have wanted to write a Blog dedicated to my David along the way of my Bloggings, but I didn't want it to come off as me just bragging about what I have. My intention and goal is to NOT have that come across to anyone.....for we are ALL blessed in God's blessings of who he has placed in our lives (even if you don't see it). But rather my desire to share comes from a heart that is so FULL of gratitude and complete LOVE for a gift to me. And in that gift of my David is the very heart of God himself. For my David shows forth the very nature and character of God daily to me. So please read this in the way that it is given.....through a genuine heart of gratitude.

David and I have been doing some renovating of our home. Renovations are fun, cool and exciting....I love to see new things take place, shape and form! And in those "Renos" <<the home shows call them that.....David has taught me many skills along the way. As I was learning each new skill, I began taking pictures. As I took more pictures, I began thinking back to all the MANY things David has taught me in life. I scanned back through many pictures of days gone by and came up with a collection of various things. Although certainly not all; these are some. . . 

Demolishing is super FUN!!! I yelled every single time I swung this sledgehammer!!

Thanks David. :)

We are hand sewing curtains in this picture! David has always been our seamstress in our family. And now with his guidance, I can sew too!!

Thanks David. :)

I can now say I have stained furniture as well as varnished too!! This is our handrail up the stairs.

Thanks David. :)

I am also the designated "roller-painter" too! David is the detailer and I'm the roller. 

Thanks David. :)

And yes, sometimes, I do trim work too!! Although this looks BAD - - we were coming back with a main color for walls. :)

Thanks David.

David has taught me a real LOVE for adventures of ALL kinds!! Our adventures lay before us daily (yours too)! Seize the opportunity whatever it may look like....you'll be glad you did!! :)

Thanks David.

Adventures even in the smallest sizes can be O so FUN as well!!! :)

Thanks David.

David has taught me to love exercise through walking too!! We walk everywhere and often. :)

Thanks David.

David has taught how to do yard work and make areas pretty by planting flowers! I seriously enjoy the accomplished feeling when you have worked HARD all day in the yards and look back to see something was done and know that you were a part of that something! :)

Thanks David.

I can now say I also know how to use a crow bar to remove an entire wall of paneling and base/crown moldings too!! Which had about a 100 nails AND glue on it!! And take it ALL down the stairs and into the garage myself!! No small feat!! :)

Thanks David.

And although these are David's hands and not mine....I learned how to sand spin along with him!! :)

Thanks David.

David has taught me how to even play golf....believe it or not!!! Although we never fully became accomplished at it, we had FUN!! :)

Thanks David.

Although technically full credit should probably go to my Dad for this one, for he started me off very early in life loving this adventure....my David is the one that renewed it's desire once again. :)

Thanks David.

But David gets full credit for the bow and arrow lessons! Haha! 

Thanks David. :)

As well as the cooking lessons!!  

Thanks David. :)

AND......I can shoot a gun now too!! 

Thanks David. :)

Hey I can even peel and eat a crawfish now....although very S L O W L Y!! 

Thanks David. :)

David has taught me the love of a good hike up a very TALL mountain....to reach the tippy top and feel the joy of accomplishment while praising the very Creator of our Universe!! 

Thanks David. :)

David has taught me to be ME..... like me.....to enjoy being me.....to accept me. That even in all my quirkiness and weirdness.....I can be ME.

Thanks David. :)

And he has taught me to enjoy each and all of our moments......together. For in those times we are at our happiest!!

Thanks David. :)

As wonderful and great as each of those things are (and there's so much more he's taught me).....I know with all my heart that the biggest and greatest of lessons are these . . . .

To love and forgive completely in it purest form. And what it truly means to do both.

To let it ALL go and give it ALL to God.

Three of those "All" being our children.

To understand what real faith is and assuring me that we can trust God even when it doesn't make since.

To know that FAITH is the answer always...no matter what. For our God is in control.

As he has often reminded me.....when is there ever a time to worry??

And it is in these last lessons, I have shared with you, that I value the most in him......"Thank you David." 

I am beyond blessed to be your wife, support, encourager, lover and very best friend!! :)

And so it is that I bring this to a close......a closing of a Blog......a closing of a chapter of my life as "Mom". 

But sure as God IS coming back again (and He IS!)....I'm off to a brand new and wonderfully joyous adventure and journey with the two most important in my life.......God first.....my David second. :)

Thank ya, Jesus!!!!

"Here It Is....The Day She Said YES!"

I would like to begin this Blog with how I PRAISE God in all the many wonderful ways he is working in each of our lives!! His mercy and grace are unfolding a step at a time and it is so much more than amazing to watch him work!! Friend, he has a timetable and a plan and knows how to fit all the many different pieces of life's puzzle together to make it into something BEAUTIFUL! As the song goes "I'm gonna take all the broken pieces and make something beautiful like only I could. So put it all in the hands of the Father - Give it up, give it all over to the One and only One who can turn it into something beautiful."
I truly believe he is doing exactly that....in his timing. Don't get discouraged when YOU can't see it happening. Most of the time we don't. God is just working a little longer behind the scenes to make it that much more beautiful. Trust HIM. There is hope.

And now....for the BIG day!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2013 would become a day to represent a very special time in the life of our daughter, Savannah. It would become the day she received Taylor Tibbitts proposal question with a .......YES! It was also a day that was shared by many including her parents. Something that this mother will cherish always. God is doing some really super amazing works in the life of our daughter and us....and I give God all the glory and thanks from a truly grateful mother's heart! Please, I ask that you keep us each one in your prayers as God is working out his will in our lives.

At 5:30pm, we met up with Taylor's family and their friends, inside a privately owned hangar. It was a little overwhelming to see all the many people there. We were told to wait inside the hangar. Once Taylor and Savannah arrived, then the doors would be shut concealing our presence. This was ALL a surprise to Savannah. Taylor had taken her to Oive Garden to eat. He had made up an excuse to have to go out to his work site, after their dinner, and do something he had forgotten. Once they had arrived, the doors were shut, and we all were making up our own stories of just what was going on beyond those doors. Taylor had a helicopter awaiting Savannah once they got there. They would then take off for a ride and finish it with a view of the field below that said "Will you" with a heart to land in below the words. Once she saw the words "Will you" he would then finish the rest of the sentence himself with the words "Marry me?" while holding the ring in his hand. :) Smooth huh!

 Heather and I knew that Savannah was nervous about flying in general. So, many of the stories circulating around were ones such as "The poor thing probably isn't wanting to get on the helicopter!" "She's probably standing there crying and Taylor's trying his best to talk her into it!" Many of us had our ears up to the hangar's door trying to catch anything we could possibly hear. I thought I heard her scream once and told Heather....that in turn started all the more stories circulating! Haha! We had Savannah a pitiful mess. BUT in reality, what did lay beyond those doors was the complete opposite. She was loving every moment of it and quite excitedly agreed to go for the ride!! :)

All the many people celebrating a special day with Taylor and Savannah!

Taylor's Mom taking an aerial picture of the proposal field.

Such a beautifully HAPPY girl she was!!!!

Savannh was SO excited!! She was sending Heather and I pictures while they were up in the helicopter! :)

We also got aerial views of the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship of Texas!

She was loving it!

Soon we excitedly spotted them coming in the horizon!!

It was SO exciting watching them come in!! :)

This Mom got a very HAPPY hug from her daughter - - a true blessing indeed!!

A toast to the newly engaged couple!

Our beautiful girls!!

Taking a picture with Taylor's brother. :)

Cody...always the character.

After all the excitement, we were invited over to Taylor's parent's house for fajitas.

It was a very wonderful night shared by two special people . . .

Thank you, God, for the growing blessings you are allowing us to see in our lives.....

And the BIG DAY is - - - - -

May 8, 2014!!!!!