Learning from Bethany Dillon.
It's amazing how music moves me.
I've been listening to a lot of Bethany Dillon today. She's one of my favorite artists ever, and she has the most amazing voice. Her songs are written by her, and from her heart, and they just really move my heart. She's only a teenager, and she is so committed to God!! It makes me wish that I had spent those years seeking His face instead of trying to "fit in" with the world.
She's getting married next month. She's only 19, and her fiance is 33. He's also her first real boyfriend. And somehow, I'm not my usual "OMG what the crap is she doing what a stupid teenager!!" self. I guess because I feel like I've seen her heart reflected in her music? And I see what kind of relationship she has with God, based on her journaling and her music, too. And I guess it just makes me happy to see a teenager finally just do God's will and put their own desires aside. You never see that anymore! People are so concerned about making their significant other HAPPY, instead of making GOD happy. He's the only one that matters, anyway!! Bethany Dillon and her fiance, Shane Barnard (from Shane and Shane), though...they're focused on God first, and themselves second.
Gah. Makes me wish Levi and I had done it that way!!
I guess we were lucky. God had a plan for us that we didn't see before. And once we put HIM first and ourselves second, our marriage got better. And it gets better everyday.
Anyway! I have just been reflecting. Feeling bad for myself, I guess, that I wasted so much time trying to do things my way instead of God's. Hopefully, someday I'll have a daughter like Bethany Dillon. One who, as she has, will rejoice in "being satisfied in Him FIRST… before I ever entered a relationship with someone else" (from her blog). Isn't that the dream? To have your children grow up and take the paths you didn't? Choose the way that leads to life, instead of death? I, and so many other women out there, thought that being with someone else would make me feel better about me. Or make them feel better about them. But only God can soothe the pain of this world. It's always been that way. By putting God first, you beat the system, and get to live this awesome life in return!! I am thankful that even though I got a late start in the game, I'm still playing in full force. =D
Thank you, Father, for allowing me to find my way back to You. Thank you for giving me a godly husband who loves you more than he loves me!! Thank you for my past, and for the mistakes you let me make, eve though it hurt you more than it hurt me. Thank you for the knowledge and the wisdom you've given so that I could learn and grow from my own stupidity. You are amazing, Lord!! I'm lucky to serve such a loving God! In Jesus' name, Amen.
I've been listening to a lot of Bethany Dillon today. She's one of my favorite artists ever, and she has the most amazing voice. Her songs are written by her, and from her heart, and they just really move my heart. She's only a teenager, and she is so committed to God!! It makes me wish that I had spent those years seeking His face instead of trying to "fit in" with the world.
She's getting married next month. She's only 19, and her fiance is 33. He's also her first real boyfriend. And somehow, I'm not my usual "OMG what the crap is she doing what a stupid teenager!!" self. I guess because I feel like I've seen her heart reflected in her music? And I see what kind of relationship she has with God, based on her journaling and her music, too. And I guess it just makes me happy to see a teenager finally just do God's will and put their own desires aside. You never see that anymore! People are so concerned about making their significant other HAPPY, instead of making GOD happy. He's the only one that matters, anyway!! Bethany Dillon and her fiance, Shane Barnard (from Shane and Shane), though...they're focused on God first, and themselves second.
Gah. Makes me wish Levi and I had done it that way!!
I guess we were lucky. God had a plan for us that we didn't see before. And once we put HIM first and ourselves second, our marriage got better. And it gets better everyday.
Anyway! I have just been reflecting. Feeling bad for myself, I guess, that I wasted so much time trying to do things my way instead of God's. Hopefully, someday I'll have a daughter like Bethany Dillon. One who, as she has, will rejoice in "being satisfied in Him FIRST… before I ever entered a relationship with someone else" (from her blog). Isn't that the dream? To have your children grow up and take the paths you didn't? Choose the way that leads to life, instead of death? I, and so many other women out there, thought that being with someone else would make me feel better about me. Or make them feel better about them. But only God can soothe the pain of this world. It's always been that way. By putting God first, you beat the system, and get to live this awesome life in return!! I am thankful that even though I got a late start in the game, I'm still playing in full force. =D
Thank you, Father, for allowing me to find my way back to You. Thank you for giving me a godly husband who loves you more than he loves me!! Thank you for my past, and for the mistakes you let me make, eve though it hurt you more than it hurt me. Thank you for the knowledge and the wisdom you've given so that I could learn and grow from my own stupidity. You are amazing, Lord!! I'm lucky to serve such a loving God! In Jesus' name, Amen.