Only if Life was like a Hallmark Movie

I am STILL a Hallmark movie fan. Weekends, especially, you’ll often find me indulging in yet another Hallmark movie. Why, you may ask? So many reasons! They’re peaceful and calming. People are pleasant and kind. Their lives are focused on family, friends and doing good things. They’re wholesome and non-violent. The storylines revolve around love and happiness. But mostly -- because they always have happy endings. Who doesn’t like happy endings, especially when it comes to love?

We all do. But, the reality is happy endings aren't always guaranteed. Because of real life. Real relationships. Real people. Real problems. Relationships fail, friendships struggle or end, divorces happen, loved ones pass away, and true love often seems hard to find. When real life happens, we often feel disappointed and alone, especially during this month that is hyper-focused on love and romance.

Speaking from a gal who has been without the “romance” side for several years now, I know that earthly relationships should never be what determines our happiness. If our happiness hinge on earthly love or perfect relationships, we’ll always feel disappointed and, quite possibly, unhappy and lacking joy.

But, really I do know romance without a romantic lover. I experience that romance daily -- along with peace, joy, and even happiness through my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one constant that always assures my REAL life will have a forever after, happy ending. He shares about His unconditional and endless love for His children in John 15:9: “I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love.” Jesus calls us to realize how much we are loved, just as the Father loves His Son. Oh, let’s breathe that in and embrace the intensity AND the immensity of that love.

In John 15:11, Jesus explains why it’s so important to recognize, and abide in His love: “I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.” You see, it’s His love alone that can bring true joy to our hearts. God’s joy is the real love we all long for, but sometimes we look for and expect to find it in all the wrong places.

It would be oh, so nice if life were like a Hallmark movie and every relationship ended happily ever after. But I’ve learned it’s possible, each day, to be joy-filled and to feel happy no matter what’s happening in my life -- regardless of my relationships status. I know the true joy from God that is the “hallmark” of being a fully devoted follower of Christ. You can know this joy, too, if you’ll give your heart and life to THE ONE Who hears the desires of our hearts and Who fillls us with joy and happiness every day. His love is enough!

God Cheers Wildly For You and Me

Everyday we have to make important decisions and we have to know when to say "yes" and when to say "no". At times, saying "no" isn't easy, especially when we just don't want to let someone down.

And, often, we give too many yeses to good things, but not best things. I watched a great example of this a few weeks ago. My son is an avid marathon runner. It's one of the ways he stays fit and mentally strong. He runs at least twelve 26.2 mile marathons a year. He was all geared up, powered up, and strengthened up for the Seattle Marathon a few weeks ago. His 10-year old son, Brennan, asked him if he was going to be at his baseball championship game (at the same time as Ryan's marathon). I heard him say to Brennan, "You know that I've been training very hard for this marathon and you know how important that is to me. Right?" Brennan replied, "Yes". Then Ryan said, "So do you want me to cancel my marathon and come to your game?" Brennan's reply again was "Yes", so I know you know where Ryan was.....at Brennan's game -- and NOT at the marathon he had trained for.

After years of being unable to say "no", I am choosier with my time and more intentional with what's most important to me. And I’m discovering how a well-placed "no" opens the door for the right "yes". But more than that, it has opened the door for opportunities of great experiences with my family, friends, and even great ministry opportunities. I am learning the best way to be as bold with my "no" as I am with my "yes". I still don’t love the thought of letting someone down. But I realize my job is not to navigate a person’s opinion of me. My job is to investigate God’s desires for me. And the best way to do that is to wait prayerfully and believe my "no" makes room for someone else to say "yes" -- someone who is better suited and better equipped to meet the need right now. God even cheers wildly for me....when I make the RIGHT decisions that He leads me to make!