My Journey Begins....

Chapter one of my journey is coming to close, now that I understand to a certain degree what this journey is going to look like. Luckily for you, I'm not that far in. So I can share how it began and where I'm at now, without taking hours and hours of your time.

Yes, I was wishy washy. In late 2008/early 2009, I decided I wanted to live the "Pure Life". Not just in keeping myself for my future husband, but also in waiting for him. Kelly Copeland did a series on the Pure Life. Basically, its about not dating. At all. Until God brings your husband/wife into your life. Then you court them, and eventually get married. I thought that sounded great! At the time I wasn't dealing with the emotions of "crushing" on a boy. I had a lot of people standing behind me, encouraging me in my journey. But then came the wishy-washiness.

I saw girls around me dating, and they seemed happy and in love and everything was going for them. I wanted so badly to have something like that. So I figured dating wasn't that bad after all. How am I supposed to figure out what I like if I don't shop around, right? Wrong. I was wrong. And I totally admit that now. I talked to my parents, and to be perfectly honest, we all got caught up in the idea of "dating". Recently, I started praying. I've read many times before the story of Jacob and Rachel. Fourteen years he worked to get her! He WAITED. That's always backed me up in my "Pure Life" stance. I read that story again the other day, and told God, "You need to scream this in my face, because I'm slightly confused. I don't know which way to walk." I needed Him to guide me. Around the same time, my Mom was praying similarly. Thank you Jesus for a supportive mom...

Just the other day, God came with an answer. I don't think I can thank Him enough. My parents met some people who believe in the "Pure Life" idea, and they spoke into my parents' lives. Three success stories from their own children, two more on the way ;). That's amazing. Absolutely amazing.

So, I don't have everything figured out yet. My Chapter One is coming to a close, as I make the solid decision that this is what I want. And as the next chapters of my life unfold, I am overjoyed to see what God has in store for me. Sure, I don't have it all together. I have missed the mark. But haven't we all? I'm excited, slightly frightened, exhilarated, and so thankful. God's got something in store for me, and its going to be a beautiful masterpiece when it finishes. Thank you Chapter One for clarifying for me how much I must choose this. As the couple my parents met stated, "Dating is practicing divorce. You're with someone, then you don't like them, so you dump them." I have to admit...I have never seen anything in the Bible about dating... Courtship, possibly. But waiting for the one, then marrying them, because that was God-ordained relationship, I have seen at least once (with Jacob and Rachel in Genesis 29:18-28).

Here I go!
Daddy's Girl