Lipstick Makes Everything Better

A Softer Side… Just thinking about you… February 28, 2012

There’s another side of me that doesn’t often appear when I’m writing. It’s a side mostly reserved for three-dimensional relationships. But, I’m going to attempt to tone down the sass and show you a softer side today.

Though no one believes me, I can be rather reserved. I’m also super sensitive. “Don’t be mean to me,” should be a necklace I wear daily. I’m easily hurt. But, I’d never want less sensitivity because I’d lose vulnerability. I’d be all sass with no heart. So,  yes, I’m hurt rather easily but I can tend to others who are hurting rather easily too.

My softer side bears the burden of friends in pain.

My softer side appreciates the vastness of the world in which we live.

And, it’s my softer side that will reach out to someone with a simple,“Hey, I’m thinking about you… I hope all is going well,” because I just think sometimes we all need to hear that.

It’s with my kindest, gentlest voice that I want you to read the rest of this post. No sass here… Pure heart.

As I pondered the various posts I’ve started on the back end of this site, I kept staring at the same words I’ve been uttering since I read them in Deuteronomy 10:21 days ago: He is your praise! He is your God! He did all these tremendous, these staggering things that you saw with your own eyes.

While reading my Bible a few days ago these words poured into my soul and took root. I can’t stop uttering them in everything. I felt them the most on a walk I took Sunday afternoon. The weather was a bit chilly but the sun shone bright against a clear Carolina blue sky.

My parents’ golden retriever is on the injured reserve list so I had to walk alone; super bummer. I love taking her to the lake to just sniff around for whatever dogs sniff. Though I didn’t have her with me I took a lake detour anyway. The water often beckons me regardless of the temperature.

Sitting at the edge of the water looking out at a never-ending sky I realized just how great our God is. He didn’t have to make the world stunning. He didn’t have to give me legs to walk out into it. He didn’t have to give me a passion for water that leads to my own personal peace beyond understanding.

But, He did give me all of it. 

As I sat looking out at the water dreaming of flying across the lake on a jet ski and swirling You are my praise! You are my praise over and over through my head, God spoke so clearly to me saying, “Arden, you are my praise too.”

God boasts about me as His creation and as His child. I am His praise too. HOW COOL IS THAT?

He boasts about you too, you  know… God wants to be in relationship with each of us. Are you looking for something, anything to fill that hole?

As much as I love a Sunday afternoon walk to the lake that moment doesn’t fill my need for relationship with Him. Talking with Him on my walk, sitting in a grassy knoll with Him, or meditating on Him days after the fact are what deepen my relationship with Him.

But, I had to start somewhere. We all do. Sunday I started with a walk.

God’s thinking about you right now. He’s doing some staggering things in your life waiting on you to see them. He messaging you with a simple, “Hey, I’m thinking about you… I hope all is going well.” Will you be so bold as answer Him?

Make Up Monday: Get Your Zzzzz Sleep Mask Style February 27, 2012

If you’ve never worn a sleep mask you’re absolutely going to laugh at this week’s Make Up Monday. If you have worn a sleep mask you’ll know EXACTLY how crucial it is to your beauty routine.

I used to have a lot of trouble sleeping because there was so much light seeping into my room. For some reason, I must have it really dark when I sleep. Any kind of light leads to distractions and my brain won’t shut down.

And let’s be honest… shutting down our brains at nighttime seems to be getting harder and harder. I do try to get off social media and my phone at least 30 minutes before I hit the hay, but that’s not always the case.

Sometimes I need something to make my brain realize: It’s sleepy time. 

Enter: my sleep mask. 

Yes, they often look ridiculous. There’s nothing sexy about a sleep mask. But, dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep is even less sexy. You know that’s real!

I have no one brand of sleep mask I use. I typically get thicker ones that are all black. I once purchased a super cute white one with cucumbers where the eyes should be but it still let in light. That’s a fail for a mask.

It took me week or two to get used to sleeping with something on my face. But, once I got used to my mask I can’t sleep without it. It truly does signal my brain that it’s time to shut down. I don’t know the science behind it. But, I’m sure there is some sort of reason.

I recommend sleep masks over black out curtains because a) they are MUCH cheaper and b) they’re portable. If you train yourself to sleep with your mask, you can take it anywhere and be ready for a good night’s rest.

Sleep is key to our beauty regime. Visit your local Target, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, or order online at Amazon.com. The masks typically start around $6 and go up from there. I get mine at Target and they aren’t cute, but they do the trick. I do understand the desire for a flirty one but I can’t justify paying $20 to flirt in my sleep.

Maybe you can. Either way, get you a mask today!

I’m Not a Cynic: A Chaser vs. Catcher Follow Up February 23, 2012

I had a hard time posting the Chaser vs. Catcher article but I also thought it was one that should be shared. Not because I think I’m an authority on dating and relationships, but because I believe in being intentional and real in life.

My struggle with it was and continues to be that I don’t think any one person can be easily put into a box. Goodness knows I try to box in a man! It’s easier for me to box in a man  than to let him be. Why? If I’ve defined who he is before I get too interested in him I won’t get hurt because I already knew who he was from the beginning. It’s an innate defense mechanism. I recognize that so no need to send me your therapist number.

Boxing in someone leads to me quickly judging. For me, judging leads to cynicism. 

But, in my last few days of Bible study God keeps pressing H.A.R.D. on my heart, “Be careful not to be a cynic.” In my Tuesday night study, He actually used Beth Moore to say those exact words. And, this morning, as I lay on my couch with a stuffy head and achy body, trying my best to soak in the words of my quiet time homework, God gave me Job.

I’m no prophet and I don’t need a book in the Bible named after me. Let me be very clear upfront before I say anything else. But… there have been times when I truly believed I was serving as this century’s Job. I’ve seen more given to me then subsequently ripped away. I’ve had (ex) friends ask me where is this God of yours? I’ve had surgeries and sicknesses that no one can describe. I’ve been in a pit not of my own making.

I heard this more often than not: Then said his (Job’s) wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10

Thanks to a lifetime of serving the Lord and knowing His goodness, I too refused to curse God. It’s not worth it. I love Him too darn much.

So, what does my Job experience have to do with my careful warning to not becoming cynical in relationships? Everything.

I’ve dated enough now to know what I like and what I don’t like. I’ve also been in relationship with enough people to know my initial impressions of someone aren’t always true. Life takes time and the beginning rarely dictates how the rest of the story will unfold.

Job started out blessed. He was financially wealthy and had a huge family. He attributed it all to God. Then, the dumb Devil had to get mouthy. And God felt the need to boast in His servant. So, Job’s story unfolds (the link should take you to his whole story). Yet, Job, never got cynical. He wasn’t rainbows and unicorns through it, but he didn’t give up hope.

And Job’s story ended more beautifully than it started. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 donkeys. He also had 7 sons and 3 daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in the land were women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. Job 42:12-15

Chapter 42 goes on to say Job lived a long time and saw many generations come after his gorgeous daughters and hunky sons.

Job started off blessed. He ended up B-LESSED! And, the trial portion of his life was a blip.

I often thinking dating is a trial. As much as I put on a tough front, I really do want to be kind to a man who may have an interest in me. I’m not a player and I don’t need a man’s attention to feel good about myself. If I correspond with a man who I think may have an interest in me, it’s because I want to know him more. (WARNING: I rarely can tell if a man has an interest in me. I always assume we’re buddies until otherwise stated.)

But, dating is also a blip. I have such a full life and I really don’t spend a ton of time contemplating the men in it. I want to focus on the whole story God gives me. Yes, I want a (hot) man who does life with me and gives me lots of kisses. Yes, I get lonely. But, singleness isn’t my whole story and telling dating do’s and don’ts isn’t my calling.

So, if you’ve experienced my Catcher vs. Chaser talk, know it’s more light-hearted than real. And know I’m more of a unicorns and rainbows kinda gal… I’m not a cynic.

The Chaser vs. The Catcher and the Promise In The Mix February 22, 2012

I’m sure this is no secret but I’ll share it anyway… when ladies get together, we gab. But, we rarely talk in the specifics most men attribute to us. Most of the time we talk in generalities.

Many conversations bore me. Reality TV? Yawn. Fashion? Not so much. The latest Hollywood gossip? Could care less.

But sugar, I willingly participate in conversations that compare and contrast the generalities of the men in all of our past, present, and future lives. Not because I’m bitter; just because men intrigue me. They are sooooo different from me. I just love the difference.

Lately, we are experiencing two types of men and trying to find a balance somewhere in between.

With much adieu (if you follow me on Twitter you’ll get that) here’s a little about the Chaser vs. the Catcher and my hope for a man in the Mix.

The Chaser

By definition: A person who’s all about the chase. Once the object of his desire officially says, “I’m in,” the Chaser is no longer interested in said object.

Flat out, I like a Chaser because that man can hunt. He’s smooth and flirty. He knows the right buttons to push and easily keeps me on my toes. You know him… he’s the guy who gets your number and will text you something funny in the middle of the day. He makes we ladies feel sexy and beautiful.

But, the Chaser is often doing this with many women. And he enjoys the game way too much to actually want to catch any one gal. Typically, he’s got more gals in his text Rolodex than I have in my Thursday Pilates class.

Summary: I’m not anything special to a Chaser.

The Catcher

By definition: A person who desperately wants a relationship; any relationship. He’s ready to catch whatever gal falls into his lap.

The Catchers bore me because there is no pursuit. A Catcher waits to see if I’m interested in him before making any kind of move toward pursuing me. I’m never quite sure if a Catcher is interested in me or if I’m his only shot at a goodnight kiss. Since I have lips and long hair, I’ll work just as good as any ol’ gal with lips and long hair.

Catchers also REALLY want a girlfriend. Like RIGHT NOW. Any new woman who pays him attention is the object of his desire until the next new woman comes along who pays him attention.

Summary: I’m not special to a Catcher.

The Mixer

By definition: A person willing to chase, actually enjoys a bit of the chase, but also wants the woman once he’s got her. The reason he chased her was because he wants her.

Here’s what it gets good… but tricky. Once we ladies get into this portion of the discussion we’re often into the territory of “The Perfect Man.” Ouch. That’s not EVA gonna happen. I know some awesome men and none of them are perfect.

The Mix man can closely identify with the Wild at Heart  theory John Eldredge gave us a few years ago. He understands his God-given desire to hunt for someone he wants without exploiting the hunt for his own ego boost.

The Mixer will communicate with me on a regular basis without blowing up my phone every five minutes and responding to every tweet I make. He schedules time with me and gives me space when I need it too. The Mixer gets me as a woman and sees me as a person.

 Summary: I’m special to a Mixer.

So, what does all this mean? Why do we ladies discuss it so often? Because we’re communal creatures trying to understand why a man would pursue and pursue just to dump us once we say, “yes”. Or, we can’t figure out why we don’t want the one guy that seems to fit what we should like.

You want to know why? We want to feel special to the fellas! Every day I’m treated as a number.

• I’m a book promoter in local media.
• I’m a Venti bold at Starbucks.
• I’m a Crunchy Roll at Dean & Deluca.
• I’m a 5:30 cycle class at the Y.
• I’m a whatever the world tends to say I am for that day.

No. No. No.

Men, if you’re into a woman, wake up and treat her as someone special. Stop Chasing everyone to boost your own ego and stop Catching anyone because you’re too scared to try for just one. Get in there and get her.

And, if you’re not into her — Leave. Her. Alone. Stop making out/sleeping with her. Stop praying with her. Stop texting her when you’re drunk. (And believe me the same man will do all of these things.)

It’s time to add some black to that white; some red to that blue; and some pink to that green – fellas, it’s time to become the Mixer. Give a girl a promise for a better date tomorrow.

And ladies, I address our own issues a lot but I’ll leave you with this one: Let your man be a man. If you’re chatting it up with a Mixer you must love on him and encourage him. We must (and there are 10 fingers pointing at me right now) stop disrespecting the men in our lives. Honor them.

My bottom line is this: I know I want a man who Chases me with the purpose of Catching me. I need to make sure I’m being a woman worth his time to Chase and Catch.  And if he ain’t Mixing, we ain’t dating.

When Did I Forget to Dream? February 21, 2012

I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.” ~Audrey Hepburn

Someone on Facebook had Audrey Hepburn’s quote as her status a few weeks ago. I quickly copied into an untitled blog post because it seemed to awaken a long dimmed fire in my soul. This weekend I understood why.

But, to get the full story, I’ll need to back up a bit. I started off my year in one of my favorite places on earth, New York City. Some people hate it. Some people love it. But, I find I always go and come from there more creative and energized. There’s something about it that takes a gal like me and pushes her to become more than she thought she could be.

NYC also scares the crap out of me.

While in the city, I met up with an old friend and her husband. They are my age and moved to the city a year ago. For whatever reason she asked me if I’d ever move there. I emphatically said, “No. It’s not my scene.”

Yet, why isn’t it my scene? It’s an art and culture hub. There’s parks and water. It’s diversified beyond reason. And there’s dark and handsome men on every corner.

I locked away my confusion for another day. Yesterday that confusion reared its ugly head again. Another friend of mine, who’s younger so I’ve deemed him still able to dream, told me he’s moving to NYC as soon as the job appears. The minute I read that text I was irked. His emphatic, Oh yeah. Nothing-will-hold-me-back attitude flew all over me. I’m pretty sure my response back was, “well, good for you,” while the snark in my head thought sure… we all think we’re going somewhere great when we’re in our 20s but life ain’t what you think it is, bud.

WHO IS THAT BITTER BETTY CAMPING OUT IN MY HEAD?

Why have I allowed my station in life to dominate my dreams instead of allowing my dreams to dominate my station in life? What happened to the woman who was going to write the next great American novel, save animals, and love her man with all her being as they did life together?

Where. Did. I. Go?

Now, don’t jump to the conclusion I’m packing up to try my hand as the Christian Carrie Bradshaw in NYC. I’m not… Yet. But, I do think I’ve gotten too caught up in what society says someone my age can and cannot do. The status quo dictates that I should be on eHarmony every night looking for my future husband, researching adoption agencies to see if I raise a child on my own, and settling in for a life full of meeting milestones based on… well, I’m not sure on what these milestones are based but they sure seem overbearingly real.

No. Absolutely not. I’m not who society says I am. I am who Christ says I am.

It’s time to allow myself to dream again; to see life past paying bills and meeting deadlines. Life is a daily gift from God. And God has made each of us dreamers. We’re allowed to hope. We’re encouraged to want more. Staying stagnant is actually against God’s will for any of us. If I’m not stretching myself how am I acting in faith?

I’m not sure where life will take me, but I know I’m tired of saying, “No. It’s not my scene,” without at least taking the time to consider if God’s speaking to me. I’ve never been a gal who assimilates to the crowd. Why start now?

I believe in romance. I believe when I wear green my eyes dance with the mischief my heart hides. I believe in faking confidence until I feel confident. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe how I treat others is a reflection on how I see myself. I believe picking is my love language and laughing brightens any dark tunnel. And I believe that one day I’ll write something that will change the world. – Arden Elizabeth

Disclaimer: Both of my friends mentioned laid the groundwork to chase their dreams.  They aren’tliving in flighty land. They are working to get what they want. I  commend them & appreciate them letting me share a taste of their story.

Get Out of the Me and Into the He February 15, 2012

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Psalm 119:36

Selfishness surrounds me. I may be more sensitive to it than most because I can be so selfish. So, it’s with conviction as well as abundant grace that I approach my post today.

The last man I actually attempted to date had a big problem with selfishness. It became more and more evident that no matter what I requested (for him to call if he was going to be an hour late for our dates, to listen to what I said and act upon it, or just give me a minute alone to process) he never attempted to answer my needs unless they corresponded with his needs/desires.

Basically, the pseudo-relationship was for his enjoyment. It had nothing to do with me. There simply wasn’t room for me to exist in a world that revolved around him.

How many times have I treated God the very same way? He’s asked me to do something and I put it off until it suits me. I make me the center of my world and ask God to reside in it; not rule it. I am about me and my will; not Him.

I spend so much time in the me that I don’t take time to be fully immersed in the He.

And I’d ventured to say we’re all like that. I see husbands thinking their wives are around for a cleaner house and better meals but never talk to their women about life. I see folks in church worshiping the Lord together but gossiping behind the others’ backs as soon as the last prayer is prayed. I see people so concerned about getting to where they need to be on time that horns are honked and fingers are raised before a traffic light can easily rest on green.

Why have we made life about US and not about OTHERS?

Again, we spend so much time in the me that we never fully immerse ourselves in the He.

So, how do I change my self-centered attitude? I believe it’s about being intentional with God and allowing His spirit of grace to overflow into the lives around me. I started years ago doing my quiet time first thing in the morning. No TV goes on, no social media is checked, and no phone calls are answered until I’ve dug into His Word, spoken with Him, and meditated on Him in some way. Some mornings my time is longer than others, but every day it is intentional.

It’s in this moment when I turn my heart toward His statutes and not toward selfish gain. (Psalm 119:36)

I start with Him so He can flow from me.

And, from there I pray. A lot. I can be mean as a hornet. No day am I ever perfect but I do think I’m better when I’m intentional about Him from the beginning. That intention bleeds into my personal and professional life. It allows me to be more sparkly and less ornery. It makes me look at a person who would normally drive me crazy as someone of value and not just a nuisance.

I make God and His will, people, and story more important than anything else. It’s the essence of getting out of the me and into the He. It’s discovering there is a purpose greater than mine. It may sound stifling but it’s also when I’m the most free. I don’t carry burdens. I don’t harbor hate. I just live and breath His glory.

Real. Love. February 14, 2012

I’ve got a few posts in my blog pipeline but thought I’d hold onto them until after Valentine’s Day. There’s no valid reasons for holding them but some invalid reasons included:

• If I don’t post about love on Valentine’s Day I may seem bitter.
• I don’t want to infringe of people’s lover time with any sort of non-lover lesson.
• I figure everybody is on a chocolate high so focusing is super hard.

But, then I got a card from my amazing sister(-in-law), Joey, and I knew I had to write something about my first love. And no, it’s not my high school boyfriend or my fat cat Skippyjon. My first love is my Lord. My Jesus. My ultimate man: I love because He first loved me. John 4:19

Our world has jaded the meaning of love into something so perverse and self-serving that I shudder to think what God thinks when we profess love. Do the angels cry out in agony when one person whispers to another, “If you loved me you would do it.”

Does Satan do a happy dance when a wife looks at her husband and proclaims, “I simply fell out of love with you.”

And oh, I know how the heart of the Lord mourns when a pedophile acts upon a child caught in sex trafficking and calls it love.

None of these are close to godly love. None. They are filthy rags! 

When I think about love, I almost always think about 1 Corinthians 13. Whenever I read or hear it I breathe in the words trying to fully appreciate them. I have a picture hanging in my apartment reminding me that love is patient and love is kind. And I truly believe that love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.

But, I think we put undo pressure on our partners in life when we expect them to meet our unquenchable need for love day in and day out. Life gets hard. There are days when all I want is a man to call my own who will love me unconditionally. But, as many committed couples will tell me, I have to be careful what I ask of a life partner.

Yes, my man is to love me. But, he does not have the ability to meet the unquenchable, desperate need for love that God places in my life and that only God can fulfill.  Yet, it’s so hard to draw that line when he (my man) can physically hold me close while He (my God) seems to have vacated the premise. 

The thing is, we have to focus first on Jesus when we think about love. Only He can fulfill our every need. Only He can love us unconditionally. Only He showed the greatest love; He laid down His life for me. (John 15:13)

Please know I’m not at all suggesting we’re not meant to do life with each other. I completely believe we are! But, I think love has been distorted into such a hodge podge of messiness that we’ve lot perspective. And, in doing so, we’re missing out on the greatest of gifts. Let’s be intentional in love to each other.

Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Make Up Monday: Lipstick Pressure February 13, 2012

I’ve avoided the lipstick subject long enough in my Make Up Monday columns. But, I’m going to be honest… I feel a TON of pressure to give you the best lipstick ever created. If a gal who claims lipstick makes everything better doesn’t bring it when it comes to lipstick you may start to think her life theme is an epic fail.

It’s not that I don’t have really great lipsticks and lip glosses to recommend. The problem is which one to recommend first. After many weeks of digging through my two, yes two, lipstick bags and pondering the pros and cons of each I chose a lesser known brand that packs a serious punch of beauty to your lips.

Without further adieu, I present my first ever Make Up Monday lip gloss recommendation: Jouer Cosmetics: Moisturizing Lip Gloss. (How sexy is that name?)

From the Website: Irresistibly sheer shades loaded with Vitamins A, C & E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Seed Oil to moisturize, soothe, nourish, rejuvenate and protect, keeping lips smooth and hydrated. Available in a signature vial that connects to any Jouer custom palette.

From this gal: Oh, my lanta, I had never heard of Jouer until I received my December Birchbox. The gloss color, Birchbox Pink, was specially designed for the company and sold out within days. And, honey, it wasn’t only the color that caused the stir.

Jouer gloss actually moisturizes your lips while the color stays rich and vibrant. There are many glosses I throw on my dry lips but the colors don’t pack a punch. As much as I love layering color, when I’m late for work or carrying a small purse on a hot date I don’t need 3-5 products to create the perfect shade plus hydration; I need one.

This is the one for me. I think it should be the one for you too. There are colors available for all skin colors which I highly appreciate. I’m one color in the winter and about 4 shades darker in the summer. It’s nice to know a favorite product line will provide lots of options for me.

You can purchase Jouer lip gloss at Birchbox.com or through the Jouer Website and it will cost you about $20 plus shipping and handling for the tube size in the picture. I realize it’s not an easy find but I love to introduce you all to new products that you won’t find on every Tom, Dick, and Harry (or Tina, Donna, and Harriett).

Happy Valentine’s week too. Put on your sassiest lip gloss and kiss someone you love!

Sunday Morning Thanks (One Thousand Gifts Continues) February 12, 2012

I’ve had a crummy attitude lately. The weirdness of people around me isn’t helping said attitude so I started last night purposely seeking solitude. I typically think it’s better if I take a time out from life when I’m in this type of mood. I say really stupid things to people I dig and that can usually lead to them not digging me. That is no bueno.

As I tossed and turned in bed last night and into this morning, I realized a lot of my funk is my focus has been distorted. I’ve let things of the world (not bad things, actually quite lovely things) take my eyes off my endeavor to stop resisting joy and count one thousand gifts as Ann Voskamp so encourages me to do as I read her book.

As the Israelites taught us in Numbers 21:4-6a an ungracious attitude is deadly.

They set out from Mount Hor along the Red Sea Road, a detour around the land of Edom. The people became irritable and cross as they traveled. They spoke out against God and Moses: “Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water—we can’t stomach this stuff any longer.”  So God sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died.

Yikes! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my inability to say “thank you” to bite me. So, I hope you’ll indulge me as I publicly gives thanks for precious gifts of this week.

1. Birthday dinner with one of my best friends.

2. Lunch with a woman in my community whom I love and admire.

3. The opportunity to pray for a dear friend’s family as they face a major trial.

4. Sitting second row at a basketball game featuring two of the country’s biggest rivals.

5. A safe trip back from said game in the wee hours of the morning.

6. The ability to structure a new plan for volunteers to ensure a more meaningful experience for them.

7. A possible freelance job that would increase my skill set and bring joy to thousands of people.

8. My first Shellac manicure.

9. Finding resolution with a problem that wouldn’t go away.

10. A morning with high school girlfriends.

And honestly, those are the highlights. I do need to do a better job of documenting gratitude moments minute-by-minute. Find joy in this day, my friends.

Oh! You’re About the Chase…

I’m looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love. — Carrie Bradshaw

I know I’m a gal that appears tough. And yes, I do enjoy a challenge. But, there comes a day when I want you to let your guard down and let me into your world. Often, I find that the men who appear to be into me are just looking for the challenge; not the actual woman I am.

I’m with Carrie Bradshaw when I think about someone I really want in my life. I want ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love. I want someone who isn’t about the chase; he’s about catching me.

The thing is… I have that. As a Believer in the one true living God, I have a Being that is ridiculously in love with me with an all-consuming love. Don’t for a minute forget the covenant which God, your God, made with you. … God, your God, is not to be trifled with—he’s a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:23-24

And, as the Psalmist says, Your beauty of love chase after me every day of my life. (Psalm 23:6a) Not only is God madly, passionately in love with, even jealous for, me dadgumit, He’s chasing me too.

So, why do I spend so much time running from His love?

I think I tend to put human parameters on a Godly being. I almost test God to see if He’s really willing to put up with me. I push and push; hoping He’ll stick around but not really sure if He will or not.

How absolutely ridiculous is that notion? First, He’s always been and will always be so God isn’t going anywhere. Plus, He created me to be in relationship with Him. So, why would He suddenly decide, “Yeah… I’m done with Arden. She’s boring. Maybe I’ll play with someone else now.”

There’s a song we often sing in church that really resonates with me when I’m in the middle of these vulnerable moments. The chorus is simple but when sung with fellow Believers breathes new life into me:

Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on me.
Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on me.
Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on me.

 Man fails me all the time. I fail others all the time. It’s not intentional but it’s real. Tonight, as many nights, I commit to allowing God to chase me. I embrace the fullness of His love. And, I’m going to chase Him too. No one else, but you, Lord. No one else.

Enjoy One Thing Remains and commit to chasing God too.