Simply Virtuous

On April 8, 2012 an amazing man of God proposed to me in front of church. So, the next thing was planning a wedding. We didn’t want a long engagement so the date was set for May 12, 2012. That meant I had to get wedding together in 5 weeks. Wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses tuxedos hair, shoes, receptions, decorations, cake, invitations, programs, music, etc. The list went on and on. Everyday was consumed with running this way and that way. Everything came together beautifully. My wedding day was spent getting ready for my future husband. My hair had to look just right, my dress had to fit just right (no spots or wrinkles) my veil had to lay just right. I even made sure that my dress was handled with care so that nothing would happen to it. However, the preparations for my wedding were so stressful and I was so tired, I even cried and got upset. None of those things matter when the double doors opened and I saw my groom waiting at the end of the aisle with a smile. The thought came ...

In my past I often had a pork and beans relationship. My pork and bean relationship were those guys who were cool to hang out with but not what I wanted. They were those guys who had some qualities I wanted in a husband but not everything. However, I think those guys were actually comfortable being just pork and beans. It wasn’t the best relationship but it was better than a baloney sandwich and I wasn’t starving but I have to admit I wasn’t satisfied. The pork and beans guys caused many tears, scars and heartbreak. The pork and bean relationships sometimes were seasoned differently or had more pork in it but at the end of the day it still was pork and beans. The sad part was I knew I wanted a full course steak meal. I knew actually what I wanted for a husband but I was so scared to let the pork and beans go because I didn’t know what my next meal would be. But God… One day I got fed up with the Pork and beans meals and said, “I rather starve and be in God’s will than continue eating t...

It’s my favorite time of the year, its spring time!!! I just love the scenery. The flowers, the baby animals, the beautiful shades of green, the weather, flying kites, blowing bubbles, the time change, I JUST LOVE SPRING!!! One thing my family does often in the spring is yard work. (Now that’s one thing I am NOT a fan of.) We have to rake all the dead leaves up, tare all the vines off the fence, pull up all the weeds in the flower bed, over turn and up root the dirt in the flower bed, mow the lawn, and plant seeds and new flowers in the flower bed. This is a very hard job and of course I try to get out of it. LOL. However, it must be done to keep the property looking nice. Unfortunately, we spend almost two Saturday’s doing the job and of course maybe a week or two later we go back out for maintenance. No matter how long we take to do yard work we still have to maintain the yard by mowing the lawn, watering the flowers, and pulling up weeds. As, Christian’s after we initially do the ha...

This morning when I pulled into the parking lot at work I was so happy to see a couple of empty spots in the second row. I pulled right up and started to put my car in park until I glanced to my left, to my surprise there was an empty parking spot in the first row right next to the handicap spots. I was so excited and drove my little car right on in it. J As I put the car in park I began to think that if I would’ve settled for the parking spot in the second row I would have missed out on my blessing for the parking spot in the first row. Often times with things in our lives we settle for a second row parking spot. We settle for something that is comfortable and simple but we often miss out of that first row spot. When I told my story I forgot to mention that I almost settle for that second row spot. I thought to myself that this spot is a cool spot and it’s still closer than the third and fourth row spot. I almost cheated myself out of a blessing because I was willing to settle. God wa...

Today’s Challenge: Pray for our youth. I was sitting in my car during my lunch and had a strong feeling of sadness for our youth. Many times we walk through the mall or drive down the street and we see our youth doing, saying or wearing things that are distasteful. We shake our heads and may say “what is this world coming to? or "That's ashame” When we turn on the news there are more young people dying than adults... But do we ever pray for them? Do we ever stop and say a prayer for that individual? Sad to say it but I’ve shaken my head or said things negative about what I’ve seen too and I was slow to say a prayer for them. Today and here on out let us cry out to God and pray for our youth because they desperately need it… Our youth need God's presence in thier life.

Today’s Challenge: Tell someone something that the Lord has done for you. Sometimes we get in the habit of talking to others about the negative things in our life. Today and from here on out let’s try to talk more about the goodness of Jesus. We need to tell more about how he saved us, how he changed our lives, how he made a way out of no way, how he is just good just because he went to the cross for you and me. This is a great opportunity to brag on God and to also lead people to Christ.