It's a Beautiful Valentine's Day!!

Hi everyone! Happy Valentine's Day:) We have love and know love because God first loved us! That is what is getting me through today (and hopefully everyone other day of the year), as well as the love of my family and friends that make life beautiful. One thing I love about holidays is that they cause me to pause and think about where I was last year at this exact day. I'm a big journaler, so I took the opportunity this morning to read what was going on in my heart. Ha, well, I guess I'm kinda at the same place as I was last year...hoping, yearning, desiring, dreaming...dreaming. The desires of my heart haven't changed too much and we can add that the yearning of my heart and my hopes haven't really changed either. Ha-well, at least there is one thing that has stayed consistent in my life. Ahem. Anyways, I'm sure you're curious about what I hope, yearn, desire and dream for and I guess this year, there is something that I would add to the list. 1. I hope, yearn, desire and dream for God to be made greater in my life within the next year. I want to look back a year from now and see that I am a stronger woman of God and that my life has impacted positively the lives of others. 2. I hope, yearn, desire and dream about my future husband. I know. From some of you I'll get the "LAME" card. And really, I'm fine with being LAME. Carrying on....if you know me, you know that I have been wanting to meet my future husband since I was like gosh, 14? Probably sooner knowing me. And here's a little inside scoop about me: I've been writing letters to my future husband for 18 yrs now. Yeppers-one tradition I just can't let go of. My journals will be his journals essentially, because I won't have anything to hide from him. AND, I SO look forward to the day he gets to read all of them. And whoever I marry I know will eat each journal entry up! I mean, the man will have plenty of time to get through all those letters because God willing, he'll have "until death do part us" to read them. I think he'll be pleased with the entries' content and I'm sure there will be other entries that will make him cry (yes, REAL MEN CRY!)...But none the less, they will give him the inside scoop of his wife's heart and soul in the most rawest fashion:) (YIKES) Gotta love intimacy. (And by intimacy, I do not mean the tellings of "Oh my gosh this one time I farted in front of my boss and it was mortifying!" or, " I like totally kissed/made-out/.... with them." Close and in part...but not the entire essence of intimacy.) I'm talking the dirt, the fears, the shortcomings in life. Full disclosure of one's soul, people. That's intimacy. And that is one thing I am thrilled about being in a Christian Covenant with another is to be at a place of utter vulnerability (intimacy) and receiving Jesus' love, grace and mercy here on this earth. Beautiful. I can and can't wait for that day...but for the most part, I'm praying that God will help me to continue to focus on Him and what He has for me to do, because I know that even when I am married. my husband will not be able to drench me with the love that only God can supply. God's love far surpasses the love of any human and in this life that's what I choose to make my heart's 1st desire! Now, to kick off Valentines Day, I guess I want to share a little something with you all: my heart. I want to do this in hopes of encouraging you somehow on this day. If you are single and not sharing this day with a boyfriend or girlfriend, it's O.K.-you're in good company;) Embrace, instead, the love of family and friends that surround you, and know too, that I am thinking of you and praying for you. I'd encourage you, if you want, to journal to that special someone. For some of you, you might think it's weird. Fine, whatever. Go do something you deem more "normal" then. But, for those who don't think it's weird-start making a box of letters to your future honey to give to them someday. It's kinda fun to think about the day they'll be reading it. It helps you dream and hope.... Now, without further adue, here is my heart which is my journal entry for this day: February 14, 2013 Father, Today is both beautiful and haunting. Beautiful because you have blessed me with you, family and friends. Haunting because I spend another Valentine's Day as the last. I know. I know--the beauty should far outweigh the haunting. I know. I look back and a yr ago, I'm kinda at the same place...but I guess somethings have changed. God I praise you for doing such an incredible work. You have blessed me and encouraged me with words from others that reveal your presence is seen in my life during this difficult time. I'm humbled. I don't feel strong at all...but I know that it is when we are weak, you are strong! Amen. Thank you for your love! You promise good and good I will believe in! To my future Husband, I am praying these words over you now: My sweetheart, oh sweet man that I love...my eyes begin to well up with tears as I think about you and just wow, this past year. Thank you for your grace and mercy and acceptance. Christ radiates in your and I am SO grateful you seek Him as you do. That you have chosen to be His Bride-you are stunning! I love you. With all that I am, I love you. You bless me b/c you are a strong man of God and the spiritual leader for our family. You are not impartial to sin but really push into godliness. You demand better of yourself in the sense of striving to be more Christ-like. You have an incredible heart for people. You're compassionate, loving, tender-hearted and so patient. You are attentive, aware and make everyone around you (including me), feel cared for. You are utterly selfless. You seek first the Kingdom of God. You hope and trust in our Lord and want the good of others over your own desires and you, my love, are not ashamed of the Gospel. You desire with a reckless abandonment for the lost to be found. You do not compromise being holy and are devoted to God. You are enthralled by Jesus and each moment you strive to know him and love him more. You are dedicated first to doing the Lord's bidding and for that are a man of GREAT strength, honor and leadership. Wherever you go, people are blessed and made better...You do not settle for an O.K. faith, but are constantly striving for a phenomenal relationship with the Lord! And in regards to me: I've never felt more beautiful-you see me, you value me, you invest in all God has planned for me, you hear me, you strive to have me fall in love with you all over again, each passing day. You consider my heart with each decision you make. You dress me with compassion, love and purity. You see me as Christ sees me and you lead us to being an intentional couple for the LORD in the lives of eachother and others. You bless me and are the definition of a godly man. I love every last inch of you and your heart. I cannot believe God would smile down on me and give me you. I am wholly yours...and I promise to daily strive to give myself wholly to our King and then you. May S of S be our story this day. I love you and wait patiently (as patiently as I can) for you. ~Crystal Joy. I hope that he won't mind I shared that with all of you--- I'm sure he won't mind. For those of you godly women (men too) out there who are single and waiting on the LORD to bless you with a godly spouse, I'd encourage you to seek the face of God FIRST, with all that you are because if it is a godly man/woman you are after to attract, then know that it is a godly woman/man he/she will want, sooooo, dress yourself solely in utter devotion to the LORD. It's possible that after doing this, you'll probably be so satisfied that if/when your husband/wife comes along, you'll not even notice! Ha! (we can only hope-truly). But in all seriousness, what an incredible thing to do but to pray over you future spouse. He/She's out there and is doing something (hopefully for the Kingdom or maybe struggling with life) and most likely will need your prayers! So, however you see that working itself out (I journal prayers over him), do it:) Ok...that's all I have to share with you all today. Enjoy this day friends! Dream, hope and enjoy the love that God brings to you each and every morning!!!! Happy Valentines Day!