Write Them Down!

What do we write down? Our prayers and prayer requests! Why? So you can see how God is working in your life every moment! While relaxing one day, I was thumbing through my personal journal. There's a lot of private things I wouldn't reveal to everyone, but this excerpt caught my eye.

Luke 11: 9, 10

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

That was the verse that stood out to me from the chapter of my daily Bible reading that day on July 5, 2013.  My prayer was this:

OK, God, I am asking. For a godly, loving husband. Someone who madly loves me and wants me for his wife. That I will love and want him, too. I am asking seeking, knocking.

It was a bold prayer. But I knew I could ask. You see, He's been with me through some dark, difficult roads these nearly four years. He was there during those sleepless nights. During the lonely Sunday afternoons. During quiet evenings. During the holidays where I kept myself busy and tried to be as happy and content as I could be. During travels--alone or with a friend--when I longed for a mate at my side. I rested in the request that day, though three days later, I said to God:

Future mate. It isn't Simon. It isn't Jake. It isn't Mike. You know, though. I'm waiting on you to show me.

Proverbs 27:14 

Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heat'

Wait, I say on the LORD!

I said to God:

OK, Lord, I will wait.

Another day, another Scripture passage:

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fulness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures evermore.

On September 4, 2013, I was hopeful my coffee date with a man named Jim would be a good one. Would we like each other? Would he be the man he seemed to be on the internet dating service? The short version would be YES he was! So quickly we went to polite strangers, to really good friends, to quickly fall in love with each other. And then, YES, engaged to be married! In two days, we will be married. Jim is that man I was asking for in that prayer on July 5th of this year. The godly, loving man who was madly in love with me and wants me as his wife. That I would love and want him too. Does God always answer prayers that quickly? Yes and no. For you see, I had been asking for about twenty months. I am so grateful to the Giver of Life. That He cares about every detail of my life and listens. Particularly on July 5th. 

Day after tomorrow, on December 7, 2013, at eleven o'clock in the morning, Jim and I will stand before our pastors, our family, our friends and declare our vows to be faithful the remainder of our days. The most important Person in the audience will be both Jim and my loving Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. It is before Him our vows are most important, for He will be the third person in our relationship.

I will share more thoughts later in the month, when my name will be Shirley Mozena. God bless us everyone!

Taking Vows

Two weeks from tomorrow, I will take vows during a wedding ceremony to my fiance-soon-to-be-husband. 

I looked up the definition of vow: "a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment". 

When I was nineteen, I said those vows and though I knew they were serious vows, I had no idea what they really meant. I just wanted to get married! 

I said them again forty-two years later. I understood better how serious the vows were. It was easy to say, "to love and to cherish, in sickness and in heath." The "'til death us do part" filled me with the memories of the choking loss two years earlier. Yet, it was with hope I said them.

In two weeks, I will most likely, choke on those words. But again, I will say them with hope. For God has gifted me with a wonderful man who loves and cherishes me. I will say, "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part....

One of my favorite Bible verses is in Romans 15:13 May the God hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Beautiful Feet

I've just returned from a two day speaking "tour". It was in eastern Washington and the drive was long. Things in my life right now are wonderfully busy and I questioned myself if I really should take the time to do this. I'm so glad I did.

The two groups were receptive to my talk. They wanted to know more about my story and purchased my book. I met some wonderful people and made new friends. While in the area, I was able to visit and encourage an old friend who is ministering to a very ill spouse.

A verse fluttered in my mind as I was thinking about those people and it was from an old prophet, 

Isaiah 52:7a 

How beautiful upon the mountains

Are the feet of him who brings good news

That was me on Tuesday and Wednesday! I was bringing good news! That Jesus Christ is the only way--and the best way. That God can and does bring salvation and hope to all people. If they will accept Him. And He heals the broken hearted. 

How do I know? Because He did just that with me. 

Mountain Tops

Mt St. Helens Summit, October 19, 2013
 Andrew, Jim, Shirley, Erika, Caleb

Twenty five years ago, I climbed my first mountain. There were at least 15 climbers that day. There was blue sky, hot sun, a 360 degree view of mountains, forest and city. A chalky dust covered my exposed legs. The climb was difficult, but I made it. My teen aged daughter was there, several old and new friends. The most special partner was my husband, Bill. 

Just last month, I climbed the mountain for the eleventh time. It wasn’t any easier, even though I’d summited it ten times before. The rocks seemed bigger. I carefully picked the safest and steadiest one. I had to work on my breathing as I climbed. I wanted to stop, sit down, rest, and not go any farther. But I wouldn’t have seen the glorious view at the top. I would have missed high-fiving my two grandsons, my daughter--now forty years old. 

More than this eleventh summit experience was my special partner this time. His name is Jim Mozena, a widower who also understands the loss of a daughter and spouse. We will marry in a few short weeks. God has blessed me once more with a third chance at love.

I honestly did not believe I would find another partner in this life. It’s very possible I would have had to live without a mate. In my case, God in His very personal way, brought Jim into my life. That might not be your story. Regardless, God is a personal God. Who cares about each of us individually. 

Love Has Come

Yes. Indeed it has. I honestly did not think God would bring such a man into my life again, but He has! I give God the praise and thanks.

We met on E-Harmony. I wasn't sure if it would work. I'd been on several different matching sites, yet, about two weeks after joining this one, a man's photo popped into view. All the qualities I wanted seemed to be there. I'd been disappointed before, though. Was this guy for real?

 E-Harmony requires a potential member to answer many questions about ourselves. It takes a lot of time to answer them--for me anyway. Once a match is made, you can send them a "smile". This indicates you may be interested in them. They take the next step. He responded by sending me five questions. I promptly answered them. Then I sent him some questions. He answered quickly. Our answers showed similar beliefs about marriage, faith, and family. Oh yes, politics too. We seemed to be a match!

Jim sent me an email asking me to coffee. I said yes....and the rest is history! You may read about our story in another book. When I have time. Right now, I'm very busy. In love. In life. With Jim.

Joy Comes in the Morning

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5b

I love reading the Psalms for it touches my heart nearly every time I read it. The above passage was today's reading and the words filled my heart with excitement.

During the past three years and nine months, my nights have been filled with weeping and sleeplessness. Yet, I knew God would be faithful and bring joy back into my life, for He has done it countless times. I took out my pink marker and underlined those words in my Bible to remind me yet again, how full my joy can be and is.

I realize joy is not always present in our lives. There are hills and valleys throughout our time on Earth. But dear reader, yet again, I am filled with JOY! And God is the giver of joy--and weeping, too. But for today, I will take the joy!!

Good-bye Applewood

Applewood is a favorite restaurant of mine. I've been there numerous times, but the most momentous one was on my first date with Blair. We closed the restaurant down with our non-stop talking. We had so much in common and there was chemistry too! We liked each other instantly! Nine days after that first date at our mutually loved place, Blair asked me to marry him! I said yes with no reservations.

Many times after that, we'd go there to toast our good fortune in finding each other and enjoy the wonderful food as well. It was always special.

After Blair passed into eternity two years later, I'd still go there. Sometimes with family, sometimes with a friend. Just last week, with two hiking friends, I had a delicious lamb chop accompanied with gnocchi in a white wine sauce and parmesan cheese. It was great--as expected
.

Unfortunately, the restaurant is now closed. They will continue catering but not dining in. I will miss that place. It's full of memories of great conversation, delicious food--and best of all, the launch off of a wonderful relationship--and marriage. I'm sad they are closed, but everything doesn't stay the same. Even great eateries.  Moving forward.....for backwards is not an option.

Wedding Toast