A new relationship, a whole new kettle of fish...

Well, it has been three months! A whole three months of a real adventure and as cheesy as it sounds, it’s really been an amazing one.

I can’t believe it’s been such a short time for such a huge amount of growth. Without being too mushy this really is what relationships are about; fun, laughter, troubles, challenges, growing, learning, evolving, love, decisions, compromise, sacrifice etc etc – and slowly, but surely I’m learning all of that – in three months I’ve come a long way! It is new to me, being in a relationship like this, but it is fun. God truly is at the centre of it which has enabled it to flourish so far and has enabled the growth that has happened already.

I went into the relationship with a similar mentality as always – stay guarded, don’t reveal too much and ensure that you keep a mystery about you. Ridiculous to some extent, but relatively wise in others. Whilst it’s important to guard your heart it is important to reveal it also, bit by bit in my case. I really can’t say enough of the beauty and importance of having God at the centre, it changes everything. Whole mindsets and outlooks are changed because of it. In the most liberating way!

When we are struggling with something it’s not just us, we’re leaning on the bedrock of all existence – we are relying on God. When we make mistakes, God knows and He forgives us, we don’t have to walk around stooped from the burden of guilt or live in a hypocritical manner. I’m finally in a relationship where I’m being challenged not just doing the challenging and one where I am not just on my own page at my own steam but one where the vision is the same – the pace is the same, the mindset is the same and both our eyes are focused on Him. We’ve hit our highs and we’ve hit our lows, but I actually enjoy both – the lows enable us to grow closer to each other and they make me so grateful for the amazing relationship I have with God and that we as a couple have with Him also.

If all else truly failed I know that we’d still have God at the end of it all – and that is a comforting thought. It finally feels like I’ve arrived; it’s taken a few heartbreaks but I’m here! I have someone to respect, look up to, follow, to challenge and be challenged by, to support and be supported by, to follow God alongside and vitally to have a lot of fun and laughter with! I am very blessed.

Thank you God.

Contentment...

I haven’t blogged in a while and that in itself got me to thinking as to why. I’m completely content. I am in a new relationship, a new stage of life and the pressures of work and such are far away … for the moment.

It is in the place of the most content that can be the most dangerous though. It is when we feel most stable and apparently ‘fine’ that often the subtle tricks of the devil can creep on in and we are caught completely off guard and oblivious. It’s a calming place and a lovely place to be, but we must always be vigilant.

For me personally I’ve noticed that my Bible reading has slipped, I say slipped rather I mean ceased. I am content and yet I’ve begun to forget about the fuel that I need in order to continue. I’ve started to read Psalms and loving it. It is not hard to be passionate about the Bible when there is such truth and beauty unfolding in every page.

It is a fight, but Jesus has the victory and I will strife to challenge and push myself further, even in this place of contentment.

I know that there is little time left before I start the heavy workload again, but even in prolonged times of deep breaths we can still enter in, we can still push, challenge and strife to know our God better, to live increasingly more like Him and to bring glory to His name.

I wrote that this morning and I've already been hit by a few challenges, it just goes to show - always need to be ready!