Love Stories Archives | Page 7 of 29

October 15, 2019February 2, 2021

Impossible Hopes

Once upon a time there lived a girl who was greatly loved by her Father.

He passed away suddenly, leaving her under the care and direction of her step-mother.

Instead of being cherished, she was forced to work as a slave for her step-mother and her two step-sisters.

She quickly lost her identity as a Beloved Daughter.

Fortunately, she had inherited her Father’s optimistic disposition, which enabled her to accept her lot in life without question.

She found comfort in Beautiful Dreams of Adventure and Romance. Her Imagination kept her going. She didn’t realize that it, too, was a Gift from her Father.

One Day she allows one of her dreams to become her wish. An Impossible Wish. The Prince is giving a Ball, and she wishes so very hard that she might be able to go. After reviewing just how impossible it is, she and her Fairy Godmother conclude:

But the world is full of zanies and fools
Who don’t believe in sensible rules
And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes
Keep building up Impossible Hopes
Impossible Things are happening every day.

Meanwhile at the Castle, The Prince is expected to choose a Bride from among his guests. So many girls – all eager to be his dance partner. Yet they are more like hungry wolves, seeking access to his virtue and his wealth. He’s bored with them all.

Except One. She catches his eye as soon as she arrives. She is so different. Delightful. There only to enjoy the experience – and him. And they soon fall in love.

They have One Unanswerable Question

(watch the clip here):

Do I love you because you’re beautiful?
Or are you beautiful because I love you?
Am I making believe I see in you
A girl to lovely to be really true?
Do I want you because you’re wonderful?
Or are you wonderful

Because I want you?

Are you the sweet invention of a lover’s dream,
Or are you really as beautiful as you seem?

Suddenly she disappears. Leaving behind only one small Shoe-Clue to her identity.

At home shortly after midnight, she assumes that’s all she gets of her dream. Determined to savor her memory of her encounter with The Prince, she goes back to taking orders as usual. But this time, with Stardust in her eyes.

Little does she know that The Prince’s desire for her as his Beloved consumes him. And he is also determined. To find her. Whoever she is. Wherever she is.

Unlike her, The Prince knows who he is. Royal blood flows in his veins. But he also knows that the Completeness of His Joy depends upon being with her.

Furthermore – He is confident that He is Her Joy and Bliss.

After an agonizing search, he finds her. And she takes her place as His Beloved.

Impossible Hopes? Nope.
So Very Romantic. Just like Jesus and His Bride.

Though we run away in shame, Jesus seeks us – wherever we are – whoever we are. He restores us to the Truth of who we are in Him. And we have the blessed opportunity to demonstrate that. Here and now. To one another. And to the World.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

“You are My Beloved. My Dream come true.”

Watch the Original Production with Julie Andrews!

September 17, 2019December 30, 2020

A Quick Turnaround

God's Goodness Leads to Repentance How quickly and easily You can turn me around, Papa. I woke up this morning wondering how I could make it through today. Then I thanked You for the Beautiful Dream You gave to me. And the Amazing Possibilities You have shown me for my life. I mean AMAZING! And my mood lifted instantly. You, Lord, are Irresistible!

Nonetheless, I am aware that – in the natural world – I am nowhere near any of that. Even so, my spirit quickens when I think of Your Goodness. Your Everlasting Kindness.

One thought led to another, and I remembered my walks on the Peninsula the summer of 2011. I’d march two miles up the shoreline, recounting all the reasons this would never work. My resolve was firm. I would protect myself. No one would ever hurt me again. I determined to erect a wall strong enough to protect myself from my own vulnerability.

But somehow, as soon as I made the Turnaround and headed back down the beach, all of my thoughts – and even the direction of my feelings – changed. Suddenly. Effortlessly.

In the words of Miss Elizabeth Bennet,
they were “quite the opposite.”

In a moment’s time, I found myself composing a message. Words that would not only encourage, but also put myself out there a bit further. So much for self-protection.

My resistance had been completely undone
by Your persistently insistent desire to bless me.

You and I went through the same routine everyday at the beach. You always won me over. And You hadn’t said a word. How did you do that?

The Beauty of Repentance

I know Your Word is Powerful. When You speak, something happens.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV)

But so is Your Spirit. And I suspect He is Your Method. Both then and now.

… Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6b, NKJV)

The Goodness of Your Presence always causes me to repent – to change my mind. And the Beauty of Repentance is being back in step with You.

Thank You, Papa, for Your Goodness. Your Kindness. Your Gentleness. Your Loving Heart that is ever focused on me as I’m learning to follow.

Always,
Your Beloved Daughter

Definition of repentance: Many understand the term repentance to mean “turning from sin.” This is not the biblical definition of repentance. In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.”

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August 4, 2019April 22, 2020

Why It’s Not Too Late

When my first husband left, I was 33 years old with 3 sons (ages 12, 8, and 5 years at the time) … and a high school diploma.

We’d married the summer after his freshman year in college. Six weeks after he completed his bachelor’s degree, our first son was born. Six weeks after that, I returned to my job as a claims processor. One year and one promotion (Transfer #1) later, we moved to a small Midwestern town where I was able to be a stay-at-home mom for our growing family.

My dream had always been to start taking a few college classes when the youngest entered preschool. In fact, I had pre-enrolled for the fall semester when my husband unexpectedly announced in May that he’d requested Transfer #2 … to The City, which was 4 hours away.

So I abandoned my education plans, focused on parenting the boys and selling our home instead. My revised goal was for the family to be reunited as soon as possible. I’d have to think about college later.

We’d been living in The City for 18 months when he announced one Saturday afternoon, “I don’t think I want to be married anymore.”

I was a hot mess.

All hope for higher education seemed lost as I gave everything I had to being a single mom … and keeping us all afloat.

Emotionally.
Spiritually.
Financially.

I needed to work full time again, leaving my sons to deal with the loss of their father, and now the loss of their mother as they knew her.

The boys and I struggled for 4 1/2 years before something began to shift. Looking back on it now, I know it was The Lord Himself. Because whenever we think “impossible,” we can be absolutely sure that He’s having a different thought.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,”
declares The Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts. ISAIAH 55:8-9

After all that, I now have a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, and a Doctorate. And I did them all back-to-back. Who saw that coming back then?

When The Lord puts His mind to something, hang on tight! It’s going to be a wild ride!

I’d love to hear from you. What dream seems impossible to you right now?