Valentine’s Day

  • Who Doesn’t Love A Good Chick Flick?

    She became his wife,
    and he loved her
    ~Genesis 24:67 NIV

    ever after movieGod’s timing for our lives is very interesting to me.

    You see, this weekend; the weekend before Valentine’s Day, I had to prepare a promo video for a retreat I’m speaking at where I’ve been asked to share my talk on The BEST Cinderella Story.

    To get into the Cinderella mindset I decided to watch Drew Barrymore’s movie, Ever After. I love how strong and stubborn Drew shows this fairy tale girl to be, she’s not some pushover princess. In this version, Cinder girl Danielle frees herself from an evil captor and still lands the prince! It’s a really great story that I’m sure you’d love because girls,

    who doesn’t love a good chick flick?

    When I watched the movie, a line struck me when Prince Henry was talking to Leonardo about the age-old question:

    Do you really think there is only one perfect mate?”

    In the course of their discussion, Prince Henry asks,

    “Is everything just chance or are some things meant to be?”

    MY FAVORITE ROMANCE STORY IN THE BIBLE

    I couldn’t help but think about my most favorite romantic love story in the Bible. Genesis 24 tells how intimately involved God was in the connecting of Isaac and Rebekah.  This story is what great chick flicks are made of!

    Isaac is a wealthy, strong, rugged man who worked the land and lived in the desert. Saddened by the death of his mother, Father Abraham sends his servant on a mission to find Isaac a wife. Not really common in our culture, but this servant loved his boss, so he had Isaac’s best interest at heart.  When I reread the story, I could see how God was able to direct Abraham’s servant to the girl of Isaac’s dreams. The Bible says of their relationship that

    “she became his wife, and he loved her.”

    Girls, if you’re wanting that match-made-in-heaven marriage you’d be wise to follow the same process of the servant to help find Isaac a wife, to help you find your Mr. Right.  (You can find my breakdown of his steps in the download below.)

    If you’re in a marriage that is leaving you feeling anything but loved, I encourage you to take the first step the servant followed. Invite God into your decision-making process.

    [tweetthis twitter_handles=”@sherry_stahl”]Ask God to help you discern if there are any steps you could take to help build a stronger, healthier, more loving, #chick-flick of a #marriage![/tweetthis]

    But above all else girls, KNOW… our Daddy loves you and not just on Valentine’s Day!

    Prayer

    Father…I thank-you because You always have my best interest at heart. Trusting You and Your timing, I choose to place my heart in Your hands because I know it’s safe with You. You know my longing to be loved in marriage.  Please fill the empty places of my soul with your love and help me surrender every desire of my heart to You, so You can fill me to OVERflowing. In Jesus Name…Amen

    How To Find Mr Right 4U-FREE Download

    [tweetthis twitter_handles=”@sherry_stahl”]Want to learn How To Find Mr. Right For You? #love #valentinesday #FREE Download [/tweetthis]

    Soul H2OIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

     


    Drawing From The Well

    1. Genesis 24:67
    2. A Quick Study of Genesis 24 with tips on How To Find Mr. Right For You can be downloaded from above.

    WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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  • I Need A Proper Hug

    “So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.”                                                      Luke 15:20  NET Bible

    Have you given someone a hug today?
    Now I’m not talking about a side-arm-squeeze, I’m talking about a full-on embrace?

    The Blind SideTHE BLIND SIDE

    While taking care of my gram, we watched one of my favorite movies; THE BLIND SIDE.  It’s no wonder Sandra Bullock won the Academy award for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy; a soft-hearted, no-nonsense, tough-cookie who opened her home to a Michael Oher, an underprivileged teenage boy that showed potential for football.  Leigh Anne was a caring mom with the claws of a momma bear.

    Her love for Michael gave him opportunities to succeed in school, sports and family life. Her belief in Michael gave him the confidence to achieve greatness; resulting in a College football scholarship and successful career in the NFL (even playing on a winning team for the Super Bowl in 2013).
    blind side hugThere was just one area Leigh Anne (or her character) was weak in, expressing emotions.  The last scene highlights her toughness when the family is dropping Michael off to College and she cuts their good-bye short because she can’t stand for anyone to see her get emotional.  My heart melts when Michael follows after her, knocks on the car door and says, “I need a proper hug”!

    FATHER HUGGER

    The father of the prodigal son was the exact opposite of Leigh Anne Tuohy.  You can tell he was a man who wore his heart on his sleeves.  He loved his son enough to let him go when he rebelled.  This father let his son take the early inheritance he demanded, even though he knew his son would waste the wealth.

    Many parties later, the prodigal son returns home, not sure if he’d blown it too much this time.  I love how this verse reveals such a loving father.  It says that when his father saw him, “his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him”.  Don’t we all want dads with hugs like that?

    I’m convinced we don’t hug enough today.  We’re either too cool, too hurt, too protective, too scared, too germ conscious, too busy…too cold.  Don’t force people to knock on your door and beg saying, “I need a proper hug”?  Open your arms wide this Valentines and embrace others with love!

    Prayer

    Father…I thank you that You are a good, good Father like in the story of the prodigal son.  Your arms are always open wide to let me in.  Let me soak in Your embrace and not push You away.  Help me to move beyond what holds my heart bound and let others in.  May I love like you this Valentine’s and all the days that follow.  In Jesus Name…Amen

    [tweetthis]Open your arms wide this #Valentines and embrace others with #love <3[/tweetthis]

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     Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
    1. Hancock, John Lee. THE BLIND SIDE, © 2009. Produced by Alcon Entertainment, Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.  Based on the book THE BLIND SIDE: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis.  

    blogger prayerYOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
    MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
    TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
    WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
    THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms,
    FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell

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  • Valentine's Day 2013

    What an awesome Valentine’s I had!  Started out celebrating with my Gram.  I went roller skating with her and all her friends for the Valentine’s special.  Such a cool gram!!!  How many 80+ year olds do you know that roller skate?  Then Todd and I had Claudia over for dinner.  I had made chocolate covered strawberries…mmmm Todd and I had already celebrated on the weekend.  I LOVED the card Todd “arted up” for me 🙂  Such a talented hubby!  Feels good to be so wonderfully in love!

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  • Valentine’s Day 2013

    What an awesome Valentine’s I had!  Started out celebrating with my Gram.  I went roller skating with her and all her friends for the Valentine’s special.  Such a cool gram!!!  How many 80+ year olds do you know that roller skate?  Then Todd and I had Claudia over for dinner.  I had made chocolate covered strawberries…mmmm Todd and I had already celebrated on the weekend.  I LOVED the card Todd “arted up” for me 🙂  Such a talented hubby!  Feels good to be so wonderfully in love!

    Read More