When Love Accepts

Is there any perfect person out there? Nah! Of course not! we all come with something and are constantly being molded into something better. The Lord is developing all of us and works with us right where we are. What a blessing it is to be accepted right where you are, how you are - flaws and all. When Love Shows Up, Love Accepts. 

Love doesn’t try to change you but rather pushes you to be your best self. Love admires your quirks and finds humor in your ratchetness (yeah you got some ratchet!). Love may not like everything you do or say but it accepts it and offers a kind, ‘bless your heart’ declaration and scurries on about the day. Love takes hold of your deepest flaws and secrets and handles them with extreme care and of course - love.  

Love’s acceptance causes you to feel secure, safe and empowered as if you can jump the largest hurdle in one leap!  When love accepts, you can be your true, authentic self, flowing in your best rhythm. 

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NCV) - Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.

To take a look at the first post in the series “When Love…” click below: 

http://www.girrrlstop.com/2018/08/when-love-shows-up.html

Convenience Ain’t Free!

A few weekends ago I was blessed with a ticket to see the production ‘Jesus’ at Sight and Sound in Pennsylvania. What an awesome production it was and the set changes were amazing! After the play my group traveled over to the Shady Maple (I think that’s the name) buffet. The buffet choices were endless. At the grill station there was steak, salmon and blackened catfish. The catfish was outstanding! The line at the grill station was long because they were cooking everything on site. As I ventured over to the line to get me a piece of (ok another piece of) catfish, I started to turn around because the line was just too long and I did not want to wait! My cousin happened to be at the front of the line so I asked him to get my fish for me. Right in that moment I made eye contact with my Pastor and he looked like “no she’s not jumping this line”. I felt bad for a split second but not bad enough to recant my request for the catfish. But it did make me think further about how people do not like to wait for anything. Why?   

Waiting can be hard. We live in a microwave society where everything is produced right away. No one wants to wait for anything these days. You don’t wait for the customer service rep, you use self-service. You don’t wait in line, you order on your phone and pick up. You have a structured settlement? Can’t wait, you need your cash NOW! Everything is now, now and right now! We do not like to wait for anything because we love convenience but what I’ve discovered: convenience ain’t free! 

There is always a cost for convenience, sometimes the cost is small and sometimes it’s massive. The convenience fee you pay Cash App for dispensing your money instantly is small. The convenience fee you pay for settling for just “ok” versus “God’s best” for your life is massive!

So I hear you asking 'what convenience fee do you mean?' Well let me provide a short list:

When you put your desires above what God's Word says 

Fee = Life Becomes A Hot Mess (Filled with Disappointment)

When you settle for Mr. Right Now instead of waiting on God's best

Fee = Life Becomes A Hurt Mess (Filled with Heartbreak and Headache)

When you decide to do things the world's way instead of standing firm on God's Word 

Fee = A Whole Mess (Filled with Catastrophe and Confusion) 

Whoa! These fees are enormous and will eat up any life that you have left! In these instances, convenience isn't worth it! Don't settle, wait on God's best and always remember: convenience ain't free! 

What to Do While You Wait

Waiting is hard to do. We like things to be instant. For instance, we like instant oatmeal, instant deposits, and even instant coffee! We like ready-made, pre-cooked and instant meals. This pre-occupation with ‘instant’ carries over into the area of relationships - and this can be dangerous. In relationships and dating the 'instant craving' causes anxiety which in turn causes us to get antsy during the wait. I completely understand this feeling as a seasoned single. I know how anxiety can sit in as the wait prolongs, sits and festers. So how do we calm down? What do we do while we wait? 

Let’s take our cue from the exceptional waiter in an exceptional restaurant. I’m talking about the best waiter you ever encountered, the one that made you tip extra at the end of the meal! Here are three things waiters do that we can apply during our season of waiting: 

1. Waiters Serve - Just like waiters serve the people at the table so should we serve Christ by serving God’s people. Participate in your church through various ministries, serve in your community through shelters or soup kitchens, and serve people in your life, making a positive impact in the lives of those you come in contact with. As a single you should always strive to see how you can serve others & how you can make things better. Concentrate on serving God and others and see how your life changes. Additionally, for those seeking God for a mate, what better way for your future mate to see you than serving God! Boaz saw Ruth when she was in the field working! 

2. Waiters Smile - I can’t express to you the difference a smile makes when you see someone or are greeted by them. The amount of single women I see walking around with frowns is so disconcerting to me. Waiters in a restaurant smile because it makes people feel welcome and literally shifts the atmosphere to a more positive one. As a single woman, strive to be a woman who shifts the atmosphere into one that is life-giving. If you are hurting on the inside and can’t muster up a smile, pray and God will heal you so that you can be an atmosphere shifter! 

3. Waiters Survey - An exceptional waiter surveys the table so that they can anticipate requests from the customers. During your waiting season, survey, scan and study those you help, so that you can anticipate their needs and exceed them. This goes back to making things better for those around you and shifting the atmosphere when you enter the scene. 

Why should you focus on serving, making things better, shifting the atmosphere and surveying those you serve? This is all great preparation for a spouse! You should always strive to make things better and create loving, positive and life-giving environments that people will want to be in and thrive in. 

The waiting season doesn't have to be one of angst, it should be a time that is fulfilling as you are constantly creating and living your best life!