Seasons

Have you ever felt like there is a season in your life that is on its way, but you have no idea what that is?

My best fall photo.

Growing up in Virginia I loved the seasons! Every season is completely different. you knew when it started getting hot out that it was almost time for school to get out for summer, but my favorite was knowing that school was about to start because of how tall the corn had gotten.  The two seasons I loved the most we don't have here in South Georgia, Fall and Winter. The change into Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! You wake up one morning and a crispness hits your face and you know the leaves are about to change and it will be sweater weather soon!

I miss the leaves changing colors and the crunchy sound under your feet, but most of all I miss the change. You knew a change was coming. You knew things would not stay hot forever. A cool change was coming.

In the season of life that my husband and I are in we are feeling that a cool change is coming, but the hard part is not knowing when or how. We are in an uneasy part of life almost like "waiting for the other shoe to drop" or will this be the cool change? This is not a fun feeling at all, but this is where we are right now. Where does God want us? What does God want us to do? I keep reminding other people of Paul's words to the church at Philippi about being anxious. Funny thing, I am being anxious! Sometimes we think God is talking through us when in actuality He is talking directly to us!

Phil 4:6-7

With the change in seasons comes some amazing things! I hope your change this season is a happy one!

Dating Pt. 2 (the good stuff!)

Dating is different for everyone. As a youth pastor the magic question by parents and teenagers alike is, "When is it okay to start dating?" The good rule of thumb is if you can see yourself married at this time then it's okay to date. (Hang out in a GROUP, so much more fun!! No pressure and WAY more laughter!!) We live in a culture that most of the generation before us met in grade school and started dating young and married right out of high school. Here's the kicker 51% of teen marriages end in divorce BEFORE the age of 24 (pg. 13 in Dateable). Here's another scenario for you from Dateable. "Out of 100 married people asked, 22 said they married their high school crush... Out of those 22 people, 17 got divorced." Do the math, that's 5 people left!
So, basically you and your "sweetheart" aren't gonna last! Got it?!  I had my first boyfriend in the 4th grade, his name is Brett Stalnaker. I was SOOOOOooo in love with him. I would now call it puppy love, but the love is real to the puppy, at least at the time it was! Was I ready to get married? NO! Do I regret it? C'mon it was 4th grade, so no! What I do regret is kissing for the first time the day after 4th grade ended at Kenton's house at a little party. The reason I regret it is because I wanted to do something new with every boyfriend after him. We've tackled the when now there is the question of Why?! I like to ask people WHY? Why date?! What's the point? So, what do you think the point of dating is? My Momma would tell you, "We date to find a mate." So true! I was a serial dater and through that I found what I like in guys and what I don't like! Don't even think you stand a chance with me if you are a hairy person, gag! But seriously, We date to figure out what we can and can NOT live with through dating! I'm not against dating in that context, but I am against dating because it is cool or dating because I want to feel loved. If you really want to feel loved then PRAY because the only love that is going to help, right now, is that of the Father.

When, Why, now WHO?! Who should I date? You should date the boy who loves God more than you! Who won't talk to you till he falls asleep because he wants to do his quiet time. Don't date the bad boy! I know he's the hot one and the one we see as a challenge, but date the boy who will lead you closer to Christ not closer to his bed! Yeah, I said it! NOT CLOSER TO HIS BED! Don't even think about going to a bedroom! Some of you know, I'm so not playing! Date a guy who cares more about your walk with Christ than your relationship with each other! If you don't see that person around you, then don't date anyone! OOOOoooo She went there! Why, Yes I did! If that strong Christian male isn't around you then you shouldn't be dating! Wait for the person God has for you! It may take years, but WAIT! Waiting is something we are SO not good at, but how about we try! We pray and try to wait for what God has for us! I said try and wait because some of us get impatient and date whoever so that we aren't alone for a period of time. What we don't realize is in the end we get hurt because we didn't wait on God. So, wait on God and HE WILL PROVIDE!