Food, Friends, Marriage Talk and Jesus

Me, Jenna, Lili, and Emily on a ferry to Amelia Island

It's Monday morning, and I'm reflecting on how incredible of a weekend I just finished. It was a weekend filled with quality time with some of the most incredible woman I could have been blessed with as friends. In 2012 I moved to Jacksonville Beach, FL having almost no connections within the city, I had no job, no church, no family and very few friends there (other than the incredible Young family.) I knew that if I was going to have to be ok living there, I would need to find a church and make some friends. I went to a church service with the Young's on Easter and it was amazing to see over 40 people get baptized within the one service. This is just the start of the blessing I would receive from this congregation. After that service I immediately emailed to get plugged in to a small group. Very soon after I received an email from the leader of the group Emily, who would later become one of my best friends I could ever have. I met this group of women and they welcomed me in with open arms. Though many came and went there was a group of 4 of us that remained the same. Emily, Jenna, Lili and I not only laughed and enjoyed each others company, but we have sharpened each other and gotten to see the Lord work in and through our friendship.

Emily, me, and Jenna this weekend

In June 2013, I moved back to Tennessee to work within another school offered through the organization of Youth With a Mission. Though I know it was the Lord's leading, it has been a very difficult time in my life because all of my best friends were so far from where I was. I seriously had to learn (and still am learning) to rely on God as my friend, my companion, my fulfillment and my love. Though I've had good friends here in Tennessee, I know the Lord gave me those women as a gift and couldn't wait to have time with them again when I moved back to Jax Beach.

Due to many different reason I've not returned back to Jax Beach, so it had been almost 8 months since seeing my dear friends. This weekend put to end the wait of seeing my friends Jenna, and Emily as they flew in to Nashville to visit me for the weekend (and Lili will be flying in this next month). It was filled with so much laughter, food, and unforgettable dancing. We made the decision that it would be more about quality time than what we did. So we were never rushed and took our time to just enjoy every

Sopapilla Cheesecake

moment from sitting in the apartment and chatting to listening to the incredible musicians at BBKings Blues Bar, we couldn't have asked for a better time.

Along with the adventurous trips to Nashville, and eating in many different restaurants our conversations were something to be cherished. One common thread through a lot of our conversation was "marriage," from what we want in our husbands to what  does biblical marriage look like. It was funny even the sermon at church this weekend consisted of a man's and woman's role within marriage. It was nice to chat with women in the same shoes as me and hear her perspective and even that we are sharing in the battle, and questions.

Time finally came to say goodbye after church but of course we had to end with more food, and another trip to Opryland hotel to waste a little time before they had to check in to the airport. So Thai food it was. Can we say delicious? But while at Opryland Hotel we just were wandering in and out of the stores when all of a sudden two men walked by one dressed in a centurion outfit and the other dressed as Jesus. They so kindly waived to us. But Emily and I decided we didn't want to just let them pass without getting a picture with them. So Haylee and Jenna following closely behind us while Emily and I literally were running after "Jesus." We finally reached them and asked if they'd be willing to take a picture with us and they very kindly accepted. By the way, they weren't just weirdos ha, they worked as characters within the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, FL. After taking the picture I got to ask them if they were truly believers in Christ and their response was "I don't know how we could even think of playing the roles we play without having an active relationship with the Lord." They followed by asking us a few questions that lead to me sharing what the Lord has called me to. What was cool, is that after they heard the gentleman dressed as Jesus then asked if he could pray a blessing over my life and calling. Yes, he was just a man, but that's the point, his heart was in service to the Lord. While he prayed he prayed protection over my heart and purity, and prayed for my "helpmate."Again tying into that thread through the weekend. Can I say how much of a blessing it was?

Well, now it's Monday like I said earlier and I to get my morning started read from "My Utmost for His Highest," and today it talked about sacrifice. Again taking me to the thought about marriage. But this time look at the relationship between God and his Bride. What a perfect example! Oswald chambers said "I don't throw my life away, but I willingly and deliberately lay it down for Him and His interests in other people," referring to John 15:13. This has always been my perspective on my relationship with the Lord, that when you love someone you want to lay down your life in service/sacrifice. In fact, Emily and I even discussed these exact things being the same in marriage, that selfishness is one of the main reasons marriages fail today.

Last group picture of the weekend: Emily, Haylee, me, and Jenna

So to wrap up, I hope that I can do just that. Give up my life in service to others. I know there is still so much selfish habits in my life and I pray the Lord will continue to teach me to mold me into the woman he made me to be, so I can be prepared for the gift of marriage.

I am thankful that Jesus did allow me to discuss some of the thoughts on marriage this weekend through quality time with friends while eating good food. :)