a letter to my future husband

dear future husband, today is one of several days that I’ve gone on my knees to talk to our Father about you. I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately, and I’ve got to admit that I miss you. Crazy huh? We haven’t met and yet I miss you. I miss you not because I hold any memories of you and us yet, but I miss you because of all the memories I’m dying patiently waiting to make with you.

"I charge you, o daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases." song of solomon 2:7

In my desperation to meet you, I blindly and foolishly tried to turn the wrong guys into you and tried so hard to see you in guys that were nothing like you, and expecting them to be my savior when Jesus is the only person who can save me. I blame this on my lukewarmness in Christ and hence my lack of proper discernment. And if you’ve been anything like me in this regard, I forgive you, and I believe you will too.

But I’ve grown, still growing in the knowledge of Christ and allowing my mind to be renewed and my heart to be healed by Him. I’m glad to say there’s a distinct distance between the days of me being a “Christian” and me actively pursuing Christ and dying to self. It’s been a few years now, and it’s been hard, but I’m hanging on. I’ve handed over the broken pieces of my heart to our Savior, knowing that He’s the only one who can fix me, and trusting that He’ll hand a good piece of my heart to you because you love Him and in pursuit of Him too. Since I don’t believe in the mythical “soul mate”, you know, this one person on the face of the earth who’ll be the only guy for me, I’m following the pointers in the love letters of Daddy that’ll make me recognize you as my potential hubby among other Godly guys. (you gotta raise your game, babe. ;))

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I’ve embraced this special season of alone time with daddy God, and I’m learning a lot. I’m learning how to respect you and love you unconditionally the way Daddy talks about in 1 corinthians. I’m learning how I’ll submit to you as the head of our home, how I’ll need to trust your leadership and be the best helpmate to you, thanks to ephesians.

I’ve been praying that you grow in Christ too, that you use your time as a single to know more about our Savior and how Daddy needs us to live. I pray that we use this time to passionately serve Daddy and others too, that we both develop our talents (did I mention I’m learning the guitar? *giggles*), that we intentionally share the good news of the salvation of our friend and brother, Jesus, and really be the salt and light of the world. Spending our time wisely this way will allow us to love our temporary single gig, trust me. ;)

I pray that your identity is found in Christ and Him alone, that you will wait patiently to meet me and pursue me like Christ pursues the church, His bride. I want you to choose me, to want me and love me as your partner for the rest of our lives on this side of heaven. I’m done with the games those other guys played, and I want you to be sure of me and choose me. Cos darling, our Daddy says “he that finds a wife finds a good thing”. I’m trusting Daddy to write our love story, I’m counting on Him for the timing, the moment when our paths will finally cross. And it wouldn’t be just sunshine & rainbows & butterflies, but we’ll intentionally choose to love each other.

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I pray that we’ll court in a manner that is pleasing unto Daddy, that we keep our purity and flee from temptation for our own good. I dream of spending time with you in prayer, and chatting about Daddy’s love letters to us. I dream of taking walks with you, having picnics together by a gentle, quiet water, going on hikes, biking and camping together. I dream of going fruit picking, and visiting farmers markets with you. I dream of relishing in the simple, yet lovely moments with you. I dream of serving and being the hands & feet of Daddy with you, sharing the good news where we we’ll be and going the distance to do the same.  (your girl’s quite the dreamer. but of course, with Daddy, our dreams in His will come true. :) )

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 The moment we marry in the presence of Daddy, is when you will then become the one, my soul mate at last. I dream of chatting with you in bed late at night and giggling with you over silly, lovely things. I dream of taking road trips with you, singing our songs with the glasses rolled down and the wind in our hair. I hope that we’ll both have a child-like faith in Daddy God all the time. I hope to go on missions with you when we get the opportunity to. I dream of making sweet, beautiful babies with you when Daddy blesses us with them. I dream of raising them up with you, in the knowledge and wisdom of God, teaching them His true and sure ways. I pray that you’ll never abuse your authority as the leader of our family, but that you’ll love me well and be a great teacher to our kids. I pray that we’ll grow old together and be full of so much love for each other still. I pray that on the bad and hard days, we’ll pray for strength and patience to keep loving on each other.

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Dear future husband, I pray that we’ll choose each waking day to do life together and never cease to drink from the fountain of Jesus Christ, our rock. I pray that our marriage will be a shining picture of the relationship between Jesus and His bride, the church, that our marriage will point people to Christ and be a witness to Love Himself. and I pray that you pray for me as I do for you, that you hope and dream of these things and more for us as I do.

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But until we do meet and live our broken yet beautiful lives, I’ll keep living a meaningful life for the greatness of Daddy’s Kingdom (our eternal home), a life that honors you. I’ll be patient while I wait for you. And on the lonely nights, I’ll talk to Daddy about you and read some more of the love letters in the Bible.

like brooke fraser says, and like I can’t force the sun to rise or hasten summer’s start, neither should I rush my way into your heart. I’ll be waiting for you baby, I’ll be holding back the darkest night. Love is waiting till we’re ready, till it’s right.

your wife in waiting,

xoxo,

genevieve delali.

He is jealous for me

When i think of the fact that Father God is a jealous Father, i try to understand it in terms of my personal relationship with Him.  In exodus 20 verse 5, He says “ you shall not bow down to them (graven images/idols), for i the Lord your God am a jealous God...” wow.  The God of the universe, the One who holds all power and infinite wisdom, who created the sun, starfish, dolphins, the galaxy, angels, and horses is jealous for me! Me, a mere shaped clay, kept alive by His breath in me. That’s seriously mind blowing! I’m sure He could busy Himself seeing to more complex things than sparing time to let me know how He feels towards me, but no, He created me to have a relationship with Him, for me to make Him my ultimate priority, and for Him to take care of the details.

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I kind of understand how some people get this jealous part of God a little wrong though. They perceive that a kind, loving, powerful God shouldn’t by any means have this emotion, which is seen to be more of a human kind than a supernatural kind.

Our Father is jealous for us for very good reasons. Now, let’s say you have a child you dearly love. you made sure this child was growing healthy right from day one in the womb, you pray over this child, you spend money for clothes, food, shelter for this child, you spend precious time at the hospital with your child when sickness strikes, you watch this child grow and bloom, you feel the love and bond the two of you share, then gradually, you begin to feel distance coming in between you two. You discover your now adult child likes the company of another family, some strangers who’re known to be notorious in your community. after school and during weekends your child becomes rebellious and doesn’t spend time with you, but drifts off to hang out with this other family and honors the notorious parents...how would you begin to feel? I believe you’ll be unhappy, sad, angry and jealous to have your child’s heart back with you, because you know the dangers of being in the company of very bad people. see? maybe this isn’t a perfect example but it’s pretty much the same way God feels towards us when we abandon and neglect Him, thinking we know better than Him.

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He made us, He yearns for us to get to know Him. He already knew us, way before He even formed us in the womb. He wants our loyalty to lie with Him.

He bends low and near to hear me. He’s interested in seeing me read and obey the love letters He wrote for me long before i came to be.

He doesn’t want to be competing for my attention, my affection, my time, not with any other thing, not even an earthly romantic relationship with a special someone.

Father God pursues our hearts, and heartbreakingly, He becomes jealous, and rightfully so, when we make other things our god/s...

 “shall the ax boast  itself against him who chops with it? or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!” isaiah 10:15

“woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter! Does the clay say to him who fashions it, ‘what are you making’? or ‘Your work has no handles’?” isaiah 45:9

He formed us with a wonderful purpose, to worship Him alone and reflect His glory. We mustn’t fight it, it’s our call, our destiny.

He is jealous for me, because He created me to love Him, not foolishly give my attention to the wrong things. And like He was telling the Israelites, anything i put before Him is an idol...job, school, hobbies, a person, busyness, even the idol of self...anything i think of more than my Father and His interests is an idol and needs to be shown the exit.

Let’s admit it, we’re the clay, He is the potter, we can’t go about rebelling against Him and intentionally making Him jealous to test Him. We’re human, with yucky, messy hearts (bcos of the sin of adam and eve) that needs the light of our dear maker and the salvation of Jesus. So, i see it this way, the more i make something else my idol, the yuckier/sick my heart will be, + the more jealous He will be, but the more i cling to Him and chase after Him, the more my heart will be filled with unbridled joy! The amazing thing is, the times he gets jealous for me, His love still remains faithful! It’s the kind of jealous that is heartbroken and dying and longing for me to come back to Him, my first, true love.

He is jealous for me, to give Him my heart, and for me to receive His love, and i must be crazy to let go of this love i share with Him.

He is jealous for you, too. Have a heart-check and be sincere if there’s anything at all coming in between your love for Him.

His love and grace is steadfast, constant, but must never be taken for granted.

He is jealous for us.

Enjoy this song from jimmy needham

xoxo,

Delali

Hello, 2014!

We made it into 2014, didn't we?! :D whew. I’m forever thankful to God. Personally, i call this year ‘the takeoff’ cos i believe it’s going to launch me into so many beautiful, Christ-worthy adventures.

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So, we have a clean, fresh start at this thing called life. Question. How are you going to live it?

Are you going to let yourself dabble in things that do not absolutely matter or will you commit yourself to goals that ultimately bring you joy and glory to God? The ball’s in your court, you choose. But as for me, I choose to continue bringing glory to God in all I do. He gave me this life in the first place, and He absolutely deserves my all.

Based on Acts 2:42, there are four key things I’ll pursue this year. It says “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

1. I need to steadfastly dig deeper into God’s word. The Word of God is a mine, and in there are precious gems. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

2. Like any quality and viable relationship, I can’t sustain my relationship with God without spending time with Him. I gotta spend more time with Him in His temple with other Christ followers. I can’t walk in God’s power by isolating myself, I need fellowship. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25

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3. I need to commune with my Father and passionately pursue my personal relationship with Him. I gotta have date nights with Him. ;) “And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24

4.  I need to pray more this year. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

So, guys, I hope you make the most out of this year. I really do. Know that you need to leave the stands and be on the pitch. Live this beautiful gift from God called life, and let what you do always bring Him the glory. He deserves it and it’s totally worth it. And throughout this year (and your entire life), i hope you remember this scripture:

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

Have a joyous and blessed new year!

xoxo

Delali.

My to read list

Books. Oh, how I love ‘em! The swirl & twirl of words and emotions.

So, today I’m sharing my to read list. Cool huh. ;) I’m dying to get hold of these books and happily indulge!  

 

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In no particular order...my 25 most-wanted-can’t-wait-to-read-and-be-totally-swoon-and wrecked-in-a-good-kinda-way books *drum rollssss* :D

1.    A thousand miles in a million years- Donald Miller

2.      Crazy love- Francis Chan

3.      Pink lips & empty hearts- Heather Lindsey

4.      Not a fan- Kyle Idleman

5.      Boy meets girl- Joshua Harris

6.      The in-between- Jeff Goins

7.      You are a writer- Jeff Goins

8.      I kissed dating goodbye- Joshua Harris

9.      Blue like jazz- Donald Miller

10.  The five love languages- Gary Chapman

11.  Wrecked- Jeff Goins

12.  Searching for God knows what- Donald Miller

13.  In the garden of thoughts- Dodinsky

14.  Angry conversations with God- Susan E. Isaacs

15.  It’s called a breakup because it’s broken- Greg Behrendt

16.  The one: a single ladies guide- Jereme L. Ford

17.  Passion and purity- Elisabeth Elliot

18.  Daring greatly- Brene Brown

19. Bittersweet- Shauna Niequist

20.  Love does- Bob Goff

21.  The single woman: life, love and a dash of sass- Mandy Hale

22.  Packing light- Ann Vesterfelt 

23.  Boundaries in dating- Henry Cloud & John Townsend

24.  Lady in waiting: becoming God’s best while waiting for Mr. Right- Jackie Kendall

25.  Praying for your future husband- Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer

 

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I seriously can’t wait to read these books cause I believe they’re filled with so much truth that’ll do my soul tonsss of good.

 Donald Miller happens to be the only author on the list whose book I’ve read, urm listened to before. *the audio book of Through painted deserts, and boy, was it good! I blogged/reviewed it here. 

The good ole Bible says:

“Get wisdom; get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honour, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Proverbs 4:5-9

What are your favourite Godly, wisdom filled reads and which books are on your to read list? Share! :)

xoxo Delali.