What Is LOVE?

Yesterday morning as I was working all of these thoughts started pouring into my head.  I don't know if it's because it's Valentine's Day is this month, or because I've been hearing so much about love but I wrote on a piece of paper, "What is love?".  As I thought about it and different sermons I've heard lately and conversations I've had with friends plus different articles I've read, I thought about the difference between what the world says love is and what God says love is... I recently read an article about what the most used word in porn website comments is...can you guess?  Love.  Love? 


"Wow.  Now how ironic is that?  How ironic is it that one of the main places that you can get the furthest from real love is where that word pops up the most in people's online conversations?  Now, granted, we realize that the word is probably being used in a much different way than we should associate it with, but does that make it any less saddening?  Does that make it okay that this word, which is meant to be used to describe the most intimate of feelings and deepest of affection, is now the most common word on a site that shows the complete opposite of love?" (Taken from the article in the link below.)
http://fightthenewdrug.org/oh-the-irony-this-is-the-most-used-word-in-porn-comments/#sthash.enXH3rDE.dpbs



Brings us back to the question, WHAT IS LOVE?  I was talking to a friend about this last week, and he said something that I've thought of every day since... "Without God at the center of a relationship there really is no love because God is love."  Mind.  Blown.  I really haven't ever thought of it that way before...  "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." ~John 4:16  Maybe it's time for us to stop trying to find love and start focusing on God because God is love.  No one will ever love you like He will, and if you don't fall in love with Him first then what's the point of "falling in love" with someone else when there really can't be any love in that relationship anyway because God isn't in it?  It would just be an emotional battlefield of lust and feelings that won't ever last.  I think most of us have been there once or twice.  It can be so hurtful and damaging to both people in so many ways.

Then you have those holidays like Valentine's Day.  It can be so hard...in all honesty sometimes it just makes me sick.  Just because that boy gives you flowers and chocolate, or that girl writes you a nice card doesn't mean anything.  How do they treat you the rest of the year?  All those girls who say, "He better get me something nice for Valentines Day"  just annoys me.  Love is more than a holiday.  Love is an everyday thing.  Flowers, chocolate and cards with hearts and sweet words written in them are all nice, but what about every other day?  Real love will open doors for you every day.  Real love puts you first.  Real love sends you a text in the middle of the week just to say, "I love you".  Real love is more focused on what they can put into the relationship than what they can get out of it.  Real love offers you chocolate in a bus in Africa when you're tired and emotional.  I'm not just talking about romantic relationships, this goes for friendships too.  People say, "I love you" the best without words.  It means more to me when my sister gives me a hug for no reason and tells me that she loves me than it does when she tells me on a special occasion.  And when my brother offered me chocolate in a dusty bus in Africa when I was sitting there bawling my eyes out (probably for no reason), I felt more loved than if he'd actually said the words.  "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ~Romans 5:8  God didn't just say, "I love you."  He showed us.  God is love, and when we act like Jesus, people feel His love through us.  When people give of themselves I see Jesus in them.

So what do we do when Valentine's Day is around the corner and the memories of past relationships that we let go of a long time ago seem to haunt us?  Grandpa brought me a teddy bear the other day, for Valentine's Day (he's always early for these things, so sweet!), and as I looked at it yesterday I remembered years ago this boy giving me a teddy bear for Valentine's Day.  I'd almost forgotten...
"Satan targets our emotions because our hearts are by their own nature deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9).  Most assuredly, where believers are concerned, the father of lies is at the heart of every destructive emotional tie.  We can't just put our pasts behind us.  We've got to put our pasts in front of God.  Satan is inconceivably mean and will take advantage of any unfinished business." ~"When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" ~Beth Moore

Call me crazy, but I totally think Satan remembers our pasts and will take every opportunity he can to remind us of things that were once hurtful to us.  So instead of having a meltdown right there, instead of letting the memories keep playing in my heart and mind I gave them back to Jesus, saying, "Heal all the hurts that I haven't dealt with.  I gave it all to you a long time ago, I don't want it back."  It was amazing how fast that ended.  No turning back.  Give it all to Jesus friends, and don't look back. 
I heard a new song yesterday, it's called "In Over My Head" by Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson


"In Over My Head"

I have come to this place in my life
I’m full but I’ve not satisfied
This longing to have more of You
I can feel it my heart is convinced
I’m thirsty my soul can’t be quenched
You already know this but still
Come and do whatever You want to

I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where never been
I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in
Let love come teach me who You are again
Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You
And all I wanted was just to be with You
Come and do whatever You want to

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours
Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours
[x2]

Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free
I’m going under, I’m in over my head
And You crash over me, I’m where You want me to be
I’m going under, I’m in over my head
Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head

It just reminded me once again how wonderful it is to give yourself fully over to Jesus, holding nothing back, being fully submersed in His love.  Don't ever settle for less than all that He has for you.  The safest place to be in lost in Him.

My Safe Place

In a world of hurt, confusion and chaos, You, Jesus, are my safe place. 


The weather today was perfect...I took my work outside and just enjoyed the sunshine, and maybe got a sunburn *crosses fingers*.  I can't even believe this is January. I've had spring fever for a month now.  Isn't God so good to give us a glimpse of spring in the middle of winter?  Because sometimes winters can be so long...and feel like they will never end...much like the harder seasons of life.  But it's the cold days that help you to enjoy the warm ones, and the difficult times that help you enjoy the good times. 

I've been sick for a couple of days and have just felt the Lord asking me to be still and know that He is God.  Sometimes I think he allows me to be sick just so that I will slow down and take the time to listen for His voice.  Funny how my body is tired and I still don't feel completely back to myself yet(sitting here coughing and sniffling as I type), but my spirit feels so refreshed.  Life doesn't have to be perfect to have a perfect day.  Today was a perfect day.  Just to feel Him right here with me, to have renewed vision and a rested soul...that's what has made this day perfect.  I'm seeing life through different eyes. 


You see, I have a tendency to worry about things I can't change.  I get all caught up in the what if's and if only's of life and forget to enjoy the moment.  Sometimes I forget that life is precious.  I forget that each day is a gift, and that I only get one chance to live it.  I'm the safe girl.  I've always wanted to live inside my personal bubble where all is happy and comfortable, and no one can touch me unless I want them to.  It's safe in there. But it's the slowest, most painful and lonely death you can imagine.  No one knows it because no one is allowed in.  But He sees, and I know it hurts Him.  Over and over I heard Him whispering to me, "You were made for so much more than this."  But He is patient with me.  He stayed close and kept reminding me of my worth in Him as He waited for me to finally give up and let Him heal and restore things that had been broken for far too long.., things that if I let them, would keep me from ever being able to truly love anyone.  In 2014 Jesus asked to pop my bubble.  He asked me to be vulnerable, first and foremost to Him, but also to be vulnerable enough to allow myself to truly love people. I was afraid, but I let Him and He made me brave.  I was hurt.  Again.  And again.  And again.  But it was worth it.  Because love sees the bigger picture and doesn't get caught up in how it hurts.  Love sees the hurting person and carries them and lays them before Jesus over and over and over, believing that one day they will give Him their entire hearts. 


My word for 2014 was Forgiveness.  And I got a good lesson in that one.  It was soul-cleansing.  I grew so much...I'm not even the same person that I was at this time last year.  I pray that each year only gets better.

Tonight I was sitting in the pasture, talking to my Jesus, chasing sunsets...taking the time just to be still and know that He is God.  The beauty of that sunset could not be captured on camera, but I think I'll remember it forever because of the conversation God had with me there.  As I sat there on the fence in my sweatpants and daddy's boots, with my crazy, messy hair soaking up the last rays of sunshine for the day, God started talking to me.  He reminded me how I've tried to live my life safely.., and how my dreams have always been so small.., much too small for Him.  The words he gave me for this year are, Dream and Risk.  Words that are small in letters, but big in meaning.  I know that it will take an entire year for me to come to an understanding of what He wants those words to mean to me personally.  I don't know where He will have me a year from today, but I'm tired of trying to live my life safely.  Let the journey begin.

John 3:30-He must become greater, I must become less.

Be The Example

This week the Lord has been teaching me more about the importance of being a good example to those around me.  Last week I was preparing to share with a church that sponsored the mission trip I took to Africa over the summer and as I went through all my pictures AGAIN, and read through my journal, watched videos of worship times we had together, and spent time remembering how God worked in my life and in the lives of those around me, I realized what a HUGE impact so many of these people had on my life.  I know my team was handpicked by God.  Each of us individually called by God to go and share what He has done for us...how He loves us enough to come and die and save us from eternal death, and how we can never be the same again because of His presence in our lives.  Each of us had the opportunity to share our testimonies with thousands of people at open air meetings, to touch the lives of so many people who had never heard the gospel before.  It's still an overwhelming thought.  I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to go on that trip.  It was through this trip that I met some of my greatest heroes of the faith, people who have left fingerprints on my heart and life just because I got to know them and hear their story, because they were willing to share with me how God has changed their life.  These are the kind of people that are so filled up with Christ that you think, "Oh my goodness, they are just so much like Jesus."

Some people you meet will make you say; "My life is forever changed because they are in it."  And you know what?  We have the opportunity to be that person to the people in our lives.  You have no idea how many people you are influencing by how you live your life.  The questions you must ask yourself are, "Am I being a good example or a bad one?" and "Am I reflecting the presence of Christ in my life?"  We have a responsibility to draw others to God by the way we live our lives and to live in such a way that the Word of God is honored.

Sharing the gospel with little kids in Burundi, Africa.

I took over 700 pictures on that trip...

After we passed out bibles to the pastors, printed

in their own language.

My pastor spoke about it yesterday morning, "Who's life is better because of you?  Be an example.  We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are."  People are always watching how we live.  Whether you think the way you live matters or not, let me tell you that it does.  You reproduce who you are.  Be a positive influence to the people around you. 

And then this morning in my bible study we did an exercise to get an idea of how many people we're influencing, I was amazed at how many lives can be touched just by how I live my own life.  I was convicted as I realized the responsibility this is and how important it is that I am being a positive, godly influence in the lives of those around me.  To do this exercise, write down the names of the people you are currently influencing and then multiply that number by 27 (since each person knows and average of 27 people well) the sum of this is the number of people you influence.




1 Timothy 4:12- Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 

"Following hard after Jesus is the hearts natural response when it has been captured and has fallen deeply in love with Jesus." ~"Captivating" ~Stasi Eldredge


Email me with your prayer requests at: imforeverhisprincess.jc@gmail.com. :)

Becoming Set-Apart

Lord, give to me a quiet heart
That does not ask to understand
But confident steps forward in
The darkness guided by Thy hand.
~Elisabeth Elliot

What does it mean to be set-apart?  To be set apart is to stand out, to be different, to be special.  The Lord has been teaching me so much about this lately; this set-apartness that we, as Christian young women are called to.  It sounds constricting doesn't it?  And we don't like to be different, because we live in a world that is constantly telling us that we are supposed to be like everyone else, that we are supposed to do what everyone else is doing.  So why would we want to be different?  Why would we want to dress, talk, act, or think differently than the world?  Maybe because it's time we discover the meaning of true beauty.  "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." ~1 Peter 3:3-4.  "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." ~Proverbs 31:30.  This doesn't mean that we can't dress cute, paint our nails or curl our hair; it just means just we should focus more on inward beauty than outward beauty.  It doesn't matter how we look if we have ugly hearts.  To have a gentle and quiet spirit doesn't mean you can't have fun or enjoy life (because some of us just aren't very quiet), I think it means a heart that rests in the Lord and trusts in Him.  If we are striving to be more like Jesus, and to have the fruits of the spirit in our lives, which are; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we will naturally begin to look more like Jesus, having that gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in His sight.  God's Word never changes.  We can always get our instruction from the Word.  It is timeless.

"There's a difference between being a princess only in title and truly living as a princess. Today it is much more vogue to carelessly hold nothing sacred than it is to carefully protect our heart, emotions, or body.  It is even considered prudish or snobby to hold purity sacred and fool yourself into believing that there is actually a man out there somewhere who will value your heart as a treasure." "Authentic Beauty" ~Leslie Ludy  To live set-apart is to live different than the world, to go against everything the world is telling us about who we are and how we should look, act, and even feel.  We must protect our hearts from being influenced by the world, telling us that we're not special, not worthy of respect, love, or being treasured as a daughter of God.  "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." ~1 Timothy 4:12.  We have to also remember that there is always someone looking up to us.  We have a responsibility to live a life worth following, because people are following us.  Where are we leading them?  We're called to live pure and holy lives.  So many young women hold their sexual purity as a trophy, something to be proud of, rather than their gift from God to be treasured and protected out of love for Him and a desire to honor what He designed to be sacred.  Life is hard, and we will experience hurt, but a lot of the time we bring our pain upon ourselves because we aren't guarding what is sacred, protecting the essence of who we are from the inside out-our heart, emotions, intimate thoughts, and physical body.  When we give our hearts to Jesus, they are no longer ours to give away.  I know it sounds cheesy, but we should be so lost in Him, that no guy can get to us without first seeking Him.  This is something I am very passionate about because I have seen so many girls give themselves away just because they don't see themselves as being worthy of waiting for, they don't see themselves as the treasured princess they are.  It's okay to still believe in fairy tales.  We have a Heavenly Prince who is constantly pursuing us, calling us into a romance so beautiful that no relationship on earth will ever be able to compare.


 

Don't live your life as if you're waiting on something to happen, or someone to show up.  You'll miss so much life along the way.  Yes, wait, and pray for your future husband, that is a very important way to invest in a future relationship should God choose to bless you with a husband one day.  But don't miss the beauty of where God has you right now.  He has a detailed plan for your life.  Trust Him with every aspect of your future.  Fall so in love with Him that He is enough for you, no matter what your future looks like.  Ask Him how He wants you to begin your journey of becoming the truly set-apart princess that He has called you to be. 

"God, please now my future see, make it clear where I should be.  Open windows, close the doors, not my will, my God, but Yours." "Fame" ~Karen Kingsbury

In Him All Things Hold Together

"You're never going to find someone because your standards are too high."  Ever heard that one?  I have.  More than once.  I can see how it could be offensive to some girls, but personally it's never offended me.  I guess one reason is because I haven't been looking for anyone anyway.  Isn't it funny that people think that just because you're not dating that you're looking for someone?  Last I checked 20 years old is still young, and yet, the other night at my cousin's wedding there were several people that were telling me I'm next in line for marriage.  I'm not against it.  Not like I once was.  For years I said I would never marry, which is definitely (as I'm sure many people guessed) a way of trying to protect myself from getting hurt again.  It's not something we like to talk about, but most of us have been through some kind of heartbreak-whether it's a break-up, or a loss much greater than that.  They leave us wounded for a long time; probably forever if we never bring our whole self- heart, body and soul before the only One who is capable of healing the hurts that we never talk about.  I have my own story.  I know what it's like to stay in bed and cry all day long, and thinking you will never be okay again.  I know how it feels to be out shopping and "our song" comes on the radio and barely being able to breathe because it still hurts so much. All those memories...they come rushing back at the most random times. And none of it seems fair or okay and you wonder why you can't seem to get over it.  But let me tell you something, it's okay not to be okay.  It's okay not to have it all together.   Because the bible says, in Colossians 1:17; "He is before ALL things, and in Him ALL things hold together."  He will hold you together when you feel like you're falling apart. Jesus is waiting with open arms for you to fall into and cry, telling Him every bit of how you're feeling.  And even when you can't talk about it, He knows your heart, He sees every broken piece and He knows how to put it back together.  I was there, never thinking I would be okay again.  I tried for so long to hold it all together on my own and it didn't work.  Things just got worse.  Because as much as I wanted it to, I learned that time doesn't heal things, Jesus does.  I had SO MANY people tell me that it would take a guy to love me with a Christ-centered love to heal the deep wounds in my heart.  Don't ever believe that girls.  Jesus is the ONLY one who can heal hearts.  There is no relationship on earth that will heal the wounds in your heart, only Jesus can.  It's not fair to any guy to expect him to love away the hurt you're feeling.  So I made a promise to my Jesus, to fall in love with Him first, before anyone else.  And I have never looked back.  Not once.  This love story is more beautiful than I could have imagined.  He has redeemed and restored every broken piece of my heart and life.  He has taken the mess I made of my life and given me a testimony of His faithfulness.  I gave Him the pen to write my life-story.  Whatever that looks like.  Only He knows.  And because I am so in love with Him I trust that He always has my best interests at heart.  Lamentations 3:24 says; I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him."  He is enough.  Give Him your heart and let Him heal it, before you try giving it away to anyone else, let Him be your first love.  I share this, not as a cry for sympathy, but as a sister who has been there.  I know how it hurts.  And I remember wondering how this could be God's plan for my life, and He said; "I allowed your heart to be broken to make it more like Mine."  Jesus came and bled and died for us, He cried for us, He allowed His heart to be broken for us.  Elisabeth Elliott said; "God will not protect you from anything that will make you more like Jesus."  I never thought it would be worth it, but it has been, because He is worth it.  He took my broken, hurting heart and gave me His.  He has redeemed every broken dream.  He knows better than I do, I see now that He protected me from an unhealthy relationship, and I am thankful.


Singleness is such a gift.  I know you've heard it before, but really, it's so true.  This time of being totally focused on Jesus has been the best time of my life.  I will have no regrets, because I have given it all to Him.  I know that He is writing a story more beautiful than the one I had written for myself.  And if you're hurting over a broken relationship, let me encourage you to give Jesus the pen to write your life story.  No matter what mistakes you have made, He will redeem it all if you will surrender your heart to Him.  I always heard that once you give a part of your heart away you can never get it back, and I get what that means but honestly, it's not true.  Ezekiel 36:26 says; "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you."  I've experienced the soul-cleansing, healing power of His love and redemption.  I'm a much more complete, happier version of myself, even now.  Even after being broken, I am made new.


You know how a lot of times little girls say they want to marry their daddy?  Well, as we grow up and mature we begin to develop ideas of the character qualities we would like in a husband, and if you take time to really think about it, the more you fall in love with Jesus, the kind of guy you want starts to look a lot more like Him.  Not a perfect guy, but someone who is just as in love with Jesus as we are, and loving us like Jesus does, and being the spiritual leader we need in our lives.  So just like little girls want to marry someone like their daddy, we want to marry someone like our Heavenly Father.  As you fall in love with Jesus, you start to see yourself the way the He sees you, loved and cherished and worth waiting for.  Don't get impatient.  Let God write your story, He has a plan for your life that is more beautiful than the dreams you have for yourself. 
Never forget that you are loved.  So very loved, and made complete in Him.


~Jordan


P.S. Email me with your prayer requests at; imforeverhisprincess.jc@gmail.com .

He Is Everything

Hi, I'm Jordan Covel!  I've been wanting to start a blog for awhile, but I haven't known where to start.  My desire is to create a community of young women who are striving to become the women God created us to be.  A place where we can encourage one another and share what God is teaching us.  The name "Bigger Than My Dreams" was inspired by my favorite bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  God has been teaching me that the plans He has for me are bigger than the dreams I have for myself.  He's showing me that the closer I get to Him, through bible study and prayer, the more my heart is becoming like His.  His plans for me are becoming my dreams.  They don't have to conflict sisters.  Our dreams and His plans can be the same.  Yes, it takes patience, and a deep trust in Him, a knowing that He knows what's best for you.  But as you fall in love with Him, He will give you the desires of your heart by making your heart more like His.  Psalm 37:4- "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."  I think this is one of the most misinterpreted verses in the bible.  It doesn't mean that God is going to give you whatever you want.  I think it means that as you delight (delight=a strong feeling of happiness: great pleasure or satisfaction: joy) yourself in Him, He will make your desire to honor Him and put Him first in everything greater than your desire to gratify the desires of your sinful nature.  We are all sinners.  All of us need more of Jesus every single day.  The journey of seeking Him and discovering His love for you lasts a lifetime.  Walk with me on this journey and let's encourage each other to fall more in love with Jesus every day.  Because He is everything.  His love for you is beyond what you could ever possibly comprehend.  This isn't a religion.  This is a relationship with the God who created you and died for you to offer you everything- life, forgiveness, redemption, peace, joy, hope-for all of eternity.  All you have to do is accept the free gift of salvation.  He wants you just as you are.  It's the most beautiful love story ever written.  You, my dear sisters, are His princesses.  I used to think it sounded corny, but really, He is our King, you are His child, that makes you a princess.  He is preparing a place for you in His kingdom; John 14:2-3-"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would not have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  Our role in this story is just to fall more in love with Him every day, read His word-because it's His love letters to us, and the map for our life-, and follow Him every day, all the way to heaven.  My prayer as we walk this road together as sisters-in-Christ, is that we will encourage one another to fall more in love with Him every day.  Thanks for reading. I hope you were encouraged.  Happy Saturday!


~Jordan


P.S.  If you have any prayer requests, or just want to share your heart, email me at: imforeverhisprincess.jc@gmail.com.