Happy Valentine's Day

Despite the snow, I was able to spend the V-day weekend with Justin, since Loyola closed for the week I drove to NJ on Tuesday to spend time with him and his family. I was planning to come up on Saturday to celebrate the 40th birthday of a soon-to-be cousin, so we would have gotten to spend some time together. But, this blog isn't about the nice cards that Justin got for me, or the surprise afternoon at the spa, it's about something that the Pastor said today at Kingdom Church in Ewing, NJ. (www.kcnj.org).

He, Pastor Daniels, is currently in the middle of a series called Relationship 101. From my understanding last weekend he focused his sermon on things to challenge the men. This week, he was supposed to focus on things to challenge the women. However, he began his sermon sharing that he was not going to follow the plan he originally laid out and I can appreciate that. His message has some relevant points, he challenged not only my thinking about relationships, romantic and otherwise, but also he helped me to appreciate God more for Justin.

Since his move back to NJ, Justin has joined the P&W team at Kingdom Church, so today was the first time I was able to see him sing as a part of a P&W team separate of ANQ events. So, today, I was able to see him in a new element, more importantly in an element that I see as a "sweet spot" for him. It was great... OH... and the P&W team rocks! Anywho... during the message, Pastor Daniel makes a parallel to romantic relationships and Abraham's ram in the bush. He indicated that if an Ex was supposed to be with you in this season of your life, then that "ram" wouldn't have gotten away, if it was truly God's gift for you. After that statement, he said the statement that caused me to "stand to my feet"... a churchism that really bothers me, I mean, what else do you stand to, I guess I could do a handstand, but whatever... and applaud God for my ex-boyfriends. God truly provided me with my needs AND my wants in Justin. I'm sure in those relationships, I thought those guys were what I needed and wanted, but they weren't for me. They didn't challenge me the way I needed to be in order to grow into a better woman, they didn't show the strength that I needed so that I could safely be the woman in the relationship, they didn't have the dedication to their walk that I needed to trust we would grow together, and... and... and... they weren't for me. To be deep, they weren't the ribcage that I was taken from, we weren't a perfect fit.

So, today, I love on God more for giving me what I needed and not what I wanted. Because what I wanted in the past caused heartache as the relationship grew. I also bless God for maturing me to move beyond and even delete the contact information of my safety guy. Another statement that stood out to me during the sermon made me appreciate God more. He was speaking to the women of Trenton, since we are in Trenton, saying that no matter what you say about there not being any men in Trenton, you simply have to trust that God will make a new man from the dirt that is solely for you, that you don't have to go back to old hurts, old mess, and old struggles simply because you feel alone. What God has for you is for you and greater than you could image, but that also means you have to accept what GOD has for you, may not be what you expect for you.

Happy Valentine's Day folks... love on God today more than you love on a spouse, family members, or boo... because He has gifted you with life, unconditional love, and those whom you put God on the back burner for...