black sequin dress

When I was twenty two, my parents bought me the most beautiful long, strapless black sequin dress. It was fitted with a flare of raspberry tulle at the bottom of the dress. It was stunning! Never before had I been voted to be in any kind of homecoming or prom court, unlike my sisters, who were both homecoming queens; but to my great surprise, my senior year in college, I was voted to be in the Miss Liberty Pageant! The week that I found out that I was going to be in the pageant, I planned to go home for the weekend and get a dress. I would be one of twenty four girls to represent Liberty University. I was honored and excited, as the pageant was a huge deal!!

Little did I know, that I would never wear the dress.

When I returned from my weekend at home, I was called into a meeting. All of the girls in the pageant were told that the pageant had been cancelled for financial reasons. I was so disappointed and hurt. We were still in a homecoming court for the homecoming football game, but it was not the same. I had to wear a dressy skirt and suit jacket. I would have to return my non-refundable dress.

Sometimes life sends us disappointments that leave us hurt and confused. How do we handle disappointment? Like Hagar in Genesis chapter 16, I can refer to God as "the God who sees me." My interpretation: "the God who sees me in my black sequin dress." I am learning in disappointing times, that God knows something that I do not know. He has a plan for me, not to harm me, but to give me a hope, and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

There will be more black sequin dress moments in my life, I am sure! May we learn to lean on Him, as He will never ever disappoint us!!

trying to fill in the grand canyon

this past week, we heard a friend speak about the love of God. it sounds like such a simple thing to talk about, but we were overwhelmed with the fact that we do not fully understand that God loves us so much, and that He is totally accepting of us, just like we are.

our friend gave a great example: God's love is the only love we actually NEED. love from others is a wonderful thing, but we were created with a void that can only be filled by God. when we try to fill our void with love and acceptance from other people, it is like trying to fill in the grand canyon with a shovel !!!

i am reminding myself this week that God really likes me, and that i can get filled up with HIS love. when we do that, we are then free to give to others.