My Little Gem

Gosh, I can't believe another year has passed me by! It's hard to believe that I am actually 32-it seems like it was just yesterday that I was dreaming about what my life would be like in my 30's. This year's birthday was TERRIFIC! Can I just tell you that I have the absolute best Husband!! Luke is a gem and is truly like no other man I know. Let me tell you what I love about him:

1) Luke really knows how to talk with people. He doesn't allow the "stupid" things of this world to get to him. He truly lives out the Biblical truth of "Esteem others higher than yourself".

2) Luke is gentle-He has NEVER been harsh with me. I've seen way too many men/husbands being quite "rough" with their wives over "stupid" things and Luke is just so gentle. He never raises his voice at me and never does anything that others would consider to be harsh.

3) Luke wants the absolute best for me. Once again, he desire for me to pursue those things that I want to pursue-he desire nothing more than to see me happy

4) Luke tells me everyday how beautiful I am.

5) Whenever there is a GREAT looking female on TV, in the mall, etc., he immediately turns away and focuses on me! He doesn't sit there and stare, his attention is immediately back on me.

6) When those little Victoria Secret Commercials come on TV, he looks away. Doesn't watch them. Seen him do this with his own two eyes.

7) Luke ALWAYS helps me with things around the house. We have a small group that meets at our house every Wednesday and you know what this amazing husband of mine does? He cleans the bathrooms, along with the floors. Many other times he does the laundry, cleans the kitchen, etc.

8) Luke makes me dinner many, many times! He gets my water for me and anything else that I may need.

9) Luke likes spending time with me. He always wants to "hang out" with me and do something fun.

10) Luke is a man of God. His heart beats for Jesus and he desires nothing more than to live the life the Lord would have him live.

My husband is a gem and I just feel so blessed to have him as my husband. He is what I always dreamed about and is so much more. Let me tell you what he got me for my birthday.

As many of you know, I am currently taking Level 5 Training with PTPM which will allow me to be an instructor for Pathway to Purpose Ministry. What this means is that I will be able to train women who desire to be life purpose coaches and 2-day life plan facilitators. In order to be certified, you must also take part in Level 4 training which will be held in Hawaii in September. Well, Hawaii is expensive and I really did not plan on attending until a later time. Well, Friday night as Luke and I are out with friends for dinner celebrating my birthday, I open his gift and in my gift bag is a ticket to Hawaii!! I'm going to Hawaii in September!! Unknown to me, he has been communicating with PTPM working out the details.

Again, my husband is quite the gem. Not only did he sweep my off of my feet while we were dating and then proposed to me like nothing I could have ever imagined (flew me to Orlando from Miami, etc.), he has now outdid himself once again.

I can't help but thank the Lord for bringing this incredible man into my life. No other man compares. As I see husbands each day interacting with their wives, all I can do is whisper to my Lord a heartfelt thanks for blessing me with a man who truly loves and cares for me. A man that has truly laid down his life for his wife.

Luke, I will always love you and cherish you! You mean the world to me!

A Heavy Heart

"Around the world each day Christians lose their jobs, their families and their freedom because they follow Jesus. They are beaten, imprisoned and killed for the name of Christ. More Christians have been killed in the 20th century than in all other centuries combined."

Well, here it is a Tuesday night at 8:42 p.m. and I have to admit, my heart is heavy. I've been sitting here trying to prepare for my Senior English class tomorrow. I've been looking over their readings on John Foxe and have been reviewing his writings which were based on martyrs. I have been looking on the web for recent martyr stories and as I find them, my heart just sinks. I feel as though I have failed-I have failed to pray for those people who have truly given up everything in order to share the gospel with those people who do not know Christ. As I read their stories I become ashamed at myself for thinking that things such as my schooling and work conditions and such are of importance. It doesn't compare to those who are truly willing to die in order to share the Gospel with those who know not.

May each of us be diligent in praying for those who have given up the comforts of America in order to reach the lost. I pray that each time you think of how bad things are in your life, or get annoyed by someone pulling out in front of you, or you just get upset over something that doesn't really matter, I pray that you would in turn take a minute to lift up those who have given their all.