Love Lessons through God's Word, featuring Song of Solomon

Lately, I've really been determined to be the best I can in my relationship. I still find myself struggling to be selfless, forgiving, and so on, in my relationship. I decided to let the Lord direct me through His word. I closed my eyes, prayed, and flipped to a random page in my bible with my eyes still closed.

This is the verse I landed on:
Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruits a thousand shekels of silver. But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
-Solomon 8:11,12
Solomon could demand rent from the tenants for his vineyard, but the girl had her own vineyard and it was her right to assign it. But she willingly gave Solomon its fruit.

Brian will be the first to admit how selfish I am, and I will be the second and agree with him. I already knew what part of my problem was, which is my selfishness; but I love that God used His word to explain how I should be.
Lesson Learned: In a good relationship, there is no private property; everything is shared between the partners.

♥♥♥
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun.
-Song of Solomon 1:5
This is what the girl that Solomon fell in love with tells him. But obviously Solomon didn't care that she had a darker complexion than most girls, if he fell in love with her in the first place. In fact, he loved her dark skin.

Often I catch myself feeling insecure about how I look and when Brian stares at me, I ask him to stop. Brian always asks why I don't want him staring at me and I guess I just don't feel like being stared at because I don't feel pretty. He calls me beautiful and pretty and cute all the time, and yet I still don't see what he sees. I thought about how Brian must feel about this and I came to the conclusion that he probably feels like his words don't mean much to me when in fact they do. But I should start accepting his compliments and listen to the sincerity in his voice instead of letting insecurities get the best of me.
Lesson Learned: Take compliments that others give you, feel good about yourself, and believe the good words that come from others [not discouraging words]. Let others build you up. You are a child of God and he lets others see what you might not see in yourself.

♥♥♥
Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday. Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?
-Song of Solomon 1:7
So not only did she feel insecure about how she looked, but she didn't feel too good about being alone while Solomon was at work. She found security in his presence.

Lesson Learned: When you can't feel secure when you're on your own because your husband or boyfriend is out, whether he be at work, with his family, or with friends, you must trust in his commitment to you. A relationship should be built on genuine love where you don't have to fear the worst because you trust.

♥♥♥
She: I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. He: Like a lily among thorns is my darling among young women.
-Song of Solomon 2:1
She compares herself to the common flowers of Israel to say that she is nothing special. But Solomon states otherwise by saying she is a "lily among thorns" as his "darling among young women". He encourages her and compliments her.

One of my favorite things about my relationship with Brian is when he or I are feeling down in the dumps, we give each other encouraging words.
Lesson Learned: Always encourage your significant other. Build them up and show your appreciation for them. This is such an important part of being in a relationship; expressing your love for each other. Too often, we get "used" to each other and our compliments come fewer and fewer because we just expect our spouse to know how we feel. But hearing these encouraging words everyday allow your relationship to blossom all over again every single day.

♥♥♥
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
-Song of Solomon 2:15
These lovers wanted anything that might cause a problem for their relationship to be removed. "Little foxes" can become big problems in relationships.

Sometimes we discover irritations or annoyances but choose not to discuss it in order to avoid creating any problems. We all know that little problems ignored turn into big problems that can't be ignored any longer.
Lesson Learned: If there's something bothering you, do not keep it inside where it will grow and eventually burst out of you. That's usually how arguments occur and how the little problem becomes big. Also, deal with your problems together as a couple when they need to be dealt with; and do not discuss your problems with others.

♥♥♥
All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him.
-Song of Solomon 3:1-2
Lesson Learned: When you love someone, you will do all you can to ensure the safety of that person and care for his or her needs, even at a cost to your personal comfort.

♥♥♥
You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.
-Song of Solomon 4:15
What Solomon says here is that she is refreshing!

Lesson Learned: Sometimes being with someone for a long period of time can cause us to forget the feelings of love and refreshment that was shared in the beginning of the relationship. Do you refresh your spouse with love, or are you a burden of complaints, problems, and sorrows? Refreshing your partner can be as simple as giving them a compliment or an unexpected gift or surprise, or just relaxing with them and focus on talking about the positive things you love about each other. Your spouse needs you to be a haven of refreshment because the rest of the world usually isn't.

♥♥♥
I arose to open for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. I looked for him but did not find him. I called but he did not answer.
-Song of Solomon 5:6
She got self-centered and impatient for a slight moment but that caused separation. She did attempt to fix the problem by searching for him but it was too late.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes we let little things bother us to the point where we push our significant other away. We may not mean to do this but it comes from selfishness and pride. I am definitely guilty of doing this. But be quick to forgive and open your arms to your partner! Because even emotional separation can be damaging to your relationship.

♥♥♥
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one's house for love, it would be utterly scorn.
Song of Solomon 8:6,7
In this description of their love, the girl includes some of its significant characteristics. Love is as strong as death it cannot be killed by time or disaster. Love is priceless; even the richest king cannot buy it.
Lesson Learned: Love must be accepted as a gift from God and shared within the guidelines God provides. Accept the love of your spouse as God's gift, and strive to make your love a reflection of God's perfect love.

I really enjoyed reading and studying this book. It definitely taught me a thing or two and I hope I was able to give a little insight on how to better any problems you may have in your relationship. I'm still working on being selfless, like I said, and I will keep these lessons close to my heart to help me defeat selfishness.
I hope everyone is having an amazing week!

Creating Inspiring Home Decor

First: Forgive my terrible photo quality!
Second: I am so not a professional painter but I figured this would be really fun!

So Brian and I have been saving up for a house and haven't really decorated our apartment as far as putting things on the walls; no posters, no photos, no paintings, nothing. So when our lease is up, we plan to be outta these apartments and be proud homeowners! So we haven't really had any spending money for decorations. Well, what better to do than to create some with some awesome scripture!?


I know you can't really tell from these paintings but I actually used to paint quite a bit; I'd never really been amazing at it but it was something I had a fun time doing. So I had some old canvases that I didn't know what to do with, and a ton of paint and paintbrushes! Even a paint marker. So I figured I'd do something awesome with them. Not awesome paintings or anything, but make good use of them and put God's word up around in our new home {when we move into our new home}. We're really excited and are hoping to find a really nice home that we could someday raise a family in. Of course, we want to get married first, and yes... we are sinning by living with each other before marriage. But we truly do love each other and although we haven't had the money or time for a wedding, we feel like we are married and are happy to spend the rest of our lives together. God knows our hearts. Hopefully a wedding will be coming up soon!(:



I'm even considering doing quite a few more of these {once I get better at it} and giving them away as gifts for Christmas or birthdays! So I'm really excited about my new/old hobby! If you've got some free time and some spending money, why not make some of these yourself? They're really fun, and who cares if they don't look professional. You've got God's word on them and that's what makes them GREAT!

I hope everyone is having an amazing week so far! We're halfway through it. Happy Wednesday!

Blessed with a Wonderful Life

There are so many wonderful things God has blessed me with & I'm so grateful He has come into my life and made me new.

Wonderful ABCs of Life
A: Our apartment is quite impressive for moving out on our own for the first time. I never thought my first place would be this nice.

B: Brian is so amazing. He's the sweetest man I know & I'm so thankful for all he does for me. He's so smart & humble. He's always there for anyone in need. I can't believe I'm the one who he calls the love of his life.

C: Country Music ♥

D: I've got the best dad in the world. God really hooked me up on this one. My dad is always there for me no matter what, and no matter how many times I've messed up, he's still there. He's never given up on me and has always helped me in whatever way he can whether it be financially, emotionally, or physically. He's the best dad God could've given me.

E: Electricity, because we all know we can't live without it {lol}

F: Family! I'm truly blessed in this department. I have the best parents, an awesome little brother, and was just recently blessed with a precious baby sister! I also have the best grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins!(:

G: God's grace.

H: Good health. God blessed me with a healthy body & it's up to me to keep it healthy(:

I: Awesome In-laws! Brian & I aren't married, but Brian has an amazing family! His mom & dad are the sweetest (guess that's where he gets it from!). His brother & sister are seriously the nicest. His nieces & nephews are the cutest (and funniest when you put them all in the same room)! His grandparents are also very kind & sweet! I'm so blessed to know them and to be able to spend time with them. They've always included me and made me feel right at home.

J: Jesus, the most wonderful man of all existence and the most wonderful thing he did for us.

K: Kind hearts. I'm surrounded by kind hearts(:

L: Love, there is so much wonderful love in my life!

M: My mom goes up & beyond for everyone! She is so loving and generous. She gives & gives until she has nothing more to give. I want to be like that. She's an inspiration & of all the people in the world, God blessed ME with her as my mom.

N: New baby sister, Faith!

O: Optimism, it's always best to go through life thinking of the brighter side of things. Not everything goes our way. But I'm going to do my best to remember that it's God's plan, not mine & He NEVER fails.

P: Patience.

Q: Quiet time alone with God is amazingly wonderful.

R: Reading. I love reading! I pretty much take a book with me everywhere I go.

S: Seasons. God has some awesome stuff going on in nature throughout the year. God created trees' leaves to turn beautiful colors & fall in the Fall, but they are always renewed in the Spring. It's just beautiful.

T: Time on his beautiful creation, Earth.

U: Unity.

V: My vehicle was a wonderful blessing that allows me to get to school & work, and visit my loved ones.

W: Water, this may be a weird one, but it's something wonderful that we may take for granted sometimes.

X: XOXOXO - kisses & hugs! ♥

Y: YOU! You are fearfully & wonderfully made.

Z: Zelda. Because Brian & I are Nintendo nerds(:

YOUR TURN! Let me know what wonderful things God blessed you with.

Her Name is Faith

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, you works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one came to be." -Psalm 139:13-16




Meet my new baby sister, Faith. Yes, I'm 22 years old and have a new born sister. I also have a 4 year old brother named Jacob. When I was younger, I always wanted brothers & sisters. I was always playing by myself, talking to myself, and staying up at night playing scenarios in my head with pretend brothers and sisters.

When my parents divorced, I especially wanted brothers and sisters so I wouldn't be going through their divorce alone. Someone else would be there beside me feeling the same way about not being able to see mom & dad at the same time anymore; always separate. But I realize now that God didn't think I needed anyone to go through this with me, I think He knew I needed to go through it with HIM. But it took me a while to figure this out.

You see, my parents got married about two months before I was born. So the way my 12 year old mind saw it was that they wouldn't have had to get a divorce if I was never born. They wouldn't have to change their entire lives if I wasn't born. The past 12 years I felt was a waste of time for them if they weren't going to spend the rest of their lives together like they promised when they got married, and the only reason they made that promise was because of me. I felt like they wouldn't have had to go through that pain of losing 12 years if they never had me. And I thought if I had brothers & sisters, it wouldn't have felt like so big of a burden. But if only I had gone to God, He would've let me know the instant that I thought that, that it wasn't true, not even close. Eventually, I found out that God wanted me to hand that burden over to Him, because it was never mine to carry.

I love my parents very much, both of them. But God had other plans, and He's still at work for both of them. And He's still at work for me. I finally have a brother & a sister. I may be 22 years old, but God gives us what we need when we need it. He knew I didn't need a brother or sister to get through the divorce, He knew I needed Him & His son & the Holy Spirit to get through it. Now I depend completely on God and trust Him with all my heart. Now I have an amazing little brother and a beautiful little sister, because I realized I needed God first. I'm so thankful that He helped me see that it was Him I needed all along, because I am nothing without Him.

Good Reads: Good Call

I don't know about y'all, but I am a pretty big Duck Dynasty fan. The Robertson's are so inspiring; they spread God's word like a wildfire and it's amazing to see what their family has accomplished thanks to God.

Jase Robertson's book Good Call was fantastic! I loved it & literally could not put it down. I actually read it in a day. His book really opens your eyes to what he and his family are about. He talks about everything from his youth, hunting trips, to his family & his wife Missy. There are a lot of life lessons in there that I couldn't wait to apply to my life. He quotes the bible and really helps you understand that his life isn't all what it appears to be sometimes. And don't let the beard & long hair fool you, he's an incredible man of God. Brian is currently reading this book, and Brian really doesn't care to read but he's really enjoying it. This book offers so much real life wisdom & there are quite a few parts that will make you smile to yourself and even laugh; I'm so glad I read it.

Purchase Good Call by Jase Robertson here

I definitely plan on reading the other books that the family has put out. In fact, I just bought Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson and I'm really looking forward to it.

Get Rid of Your Guilt

Often, we are burdened by our guilt of the sins we've committed. We dwell on our wrongs and let them define us. I've made mistakes, I'm a sinner. But God sent his only son to save us from ourselves. Although we sin, although we do wrong, we are saved by the grace of God, and the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ.
If you still don't understand, or maybe just need a pick-me-up, listen to these songs. They explain it perfectly.

Tell Your Heart to Beat Again by Craig & Dean Phillips

How Can It Be? by Lauren Daigle

I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

Forgiven by Sanctus Real

You Are More by Tenth Avenue North

When Mercy Found Me by Rhett Walker Band

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday to the best mom on the planet! Above is my favorite picture of us. She was curling my hair for me while we were in San Antonio for a PBR Built Ford Tough Series Event. It was my first time ever going and I wasn't very excited at first but we had a blast!

She was excited the whole time, but what started it for me was while we were in our car waiting for the valet line to go up. We were leaving the hotel to head to the stadium. There were a few bull riders standing outside the hotel doors waiting for their vehicles, and one of them waved at me. At me! Mom and I got into it over who he was waving at but it was all in fun. After realizing how nice the bull riders were, I really got into the whole PBR thing. I asked her who it was that waved at us and she told me it was Renato Nunes. So I vowed right then and there that he would always be my #1 favorite bull rider. When he rode that night, I cheered my head off!

Later when we got to the hotel, we figured we might run into Renato, so we waited in the lobby. We ended up "casually" running into him and hanging out with him {I thought he had a crush on my mom}. He's Brazilian and at that time he didn't know much English so I taught him "chillin'" and "homies", which I still think was my favorite part of the night. He even complimented me on my bunny slippers {yes, I was 16 and still wore bunny slippers. They were cute!}. I even watched his luggage for him when it was time to leave. So yeah, we were pretty much BFFs by end of the weekend. Like I said, he was into my mom.

We had so much fun that we made it our annual vacation to go to San Antonio to watch our favorite bull riders. It was an amazing experience getting to bond with my mom over bull riders.

This photo is from the next year, after Renato had won the world championship! He still remembered his little people fans. I'm so glad my mom introduced me to PBR. Our PBR events were some of the funnest moments we had. Thanks mom.

Also, thank you for everything you've done for me. You took care of me when I was sick, took me to the doctor and dentist when I needed you. You bought me my car & paid to put me through college. You spoiled me rotten. You were always there for me when I was having a meltdown. You gave me space when I needed, and hugs when I needed them more. But most importantly you taught me to be independent, and go for what I want most in life and to follow my dreams. You've encouraged me and also inspired me. I love you. God couldn't have blessed me with a better mom. He gave me the best.