Life is like a box of chocolates, but way cooler.

Howdy everybody!

This past week or so has been filled with a tummy full of butterflies, uncontrollable giggling, and a whole lot of blushing and speechlessness. You wanna know who is causing this ridiculous behavior in me? Hint: it's a boy. Alright, alright, I'll tell you...His name is Jesus! So, maybe that's not the answer that would typically come after all that giddy girly talk - but it's the downright truth.

Last week I read the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. For those who haven't read it, it is a book about the woman's heart and how God designed it. There is a very crucial part in the book that can apply to EVERY woman's life (single, in a relationship, married, etc.). It is about how God romances us (and yes, I did mean to use the word "romance"). Before you freak out, keep reading. 

God created us...which means He created our hearts...which means He knows our deepest desires and longings...which means He is the only one who will ever know how to fully fulfill them.

Didja get all of that? Have you ever had a favorite song? Favorite time of the year? Favorite place in nature? Are you a beach or mountain person? Sunrise or sunset person? If you have anything like this in your life, know that that love and desire for those things is God-given. God specifically placed those things in your heart. God wants a relationship with us so badly - so what does He do? He pursues us with flowers, teddy bears, boxes of chocolate and candlelit dinners. But wait a second...He's never given me those things! YES HE HAS! Let me explain. God brought me the most rich box of chocolates money could by this past week. Not only did He do it once, but He did it for me 3 times - talk about feeling spoiled!! But, it was not in the way you think. The thing is, God knows how much I'm obsessed with the sky: sunrises, sunsets (especially), clouds, rays of sun, the whole shebang. Take a wild guess as to what He does...

"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens." - James 1:17

 "Come close to God, and God will come close to you." - James 4:8

Your time is up! Here it is: for whatever reason, God REALLY spoiled me last week with 3 incredible, breath-taking sunsets and sunrises. Did it bring me to tears every single time? Yep. Am I embarrassed about it? No way Jose! God gave me those beautiful moments to tell me that I'M beautiful and that He loves me. A sunset without the Lord is just a sunset. But a sunset with the Lord is an intentional, personal, and beautiful thing. It's been a rough week, and He knew that. How would that not make me feel like the most special, loved, pretty, and appreciated girl??

"You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you." - Song of Songs 4:7

Ladies (and dudes), those moments that your heart wells up with joy when you hear your favorite song, see a patch of wildflowers on the side of the road, or your favorite city's skyline at night, are moments that God is handcrafting and personally giving you. Those moments are a fresh bouquet of roses or a big ole' teddy bear, and it's JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. He longs for your heart - He longs to see you smile - He longs for you to feel special. Think about a man who has fallen so deeply in love with the woman of his dreams; he'll do anything to make her feel loved. Same thing with God - but to a degree that we will never be able to comprehend. God wants to live life with you and enjoy the joys of life with you. Pretty neat, right?!

"That longing in the heart of a woman to share life together as a great adventure - that comes straight from the heart of God, who also longs for this. . .The vast desire and capacity a woman has for intimate relationships tells us of God's vast desire and capacity for intimate relationships . . .The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and His people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart."  -Stasi Eldredge in Captivating

I've been single for almost 3 years now. But I've been in a relationship with God for about two years and it has been the most FULFILLING, GRACIOUS, and JOYFUL relationship I have ever had or will have in my entire life. Now, we've had our ups and downs, ebbs and flows, just like any relationship. The difference is that I know that no matter what, He will be there for me, sunset in hand, ready to continue loving me the way He has ever since the beginning of time. I can't wait to see where else He's gonna take me! 

The two photos shown are unedited photos of a couple of the sunsets/sunrises that God gave me this week - words cannot describe how thankful I was for them. GOD IS GOOD.

Blessings!

Katie