Song of Solomon #2-Listen Now!

Okay, so there is not a great way to send you this link without sending you a whole slew of sermons.  However, I feel like it is very beneficial for everyone to listen to the sermon titled "Song of Solomon #2" by Smokey Hurst.

This message contains a wealth of knowledge about love, sex, marriage, and passion.  Smokey speaks directly to both men and women--separately and then collectively.  I found this very encouraging to my love story.

Here's the link: Sermon Player

(Note: As this post gets older, the sermon will move further on down the track list.)

When God Writes Your Love Story: Book Review

"When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Approach to Guy/Girl Relationships."
That title says it all.  Okay, so not quite, but it does accurately describe the essence of the book itself.  After being recommended this book hundreds of times, I finally had a chance to read and review one of Eric and Leslie Ludy's most popular books.

Originally published in 2004, the book is a flavorful mixture of the Ludy's love story, God's word to singles, and how to prepare for a marriage that stands on the truths of the Bible.  Eric and Leslie Ludy have written over eighteen books and spoken to millions of people around the world.  "When God Writes Your Love Story" is one of the best-selling Christian books of all times.

Eric is the president and pastor of Ellerslie Training, a discipleship school in Colorado for young leaders.  Leslie directs Set Apart Girl, an international ministry that helps teach girls about living pure, Christ-centered lives.  The two of them live with their four children in Widsor, Colorado.

I really enjoyed every aspect of the book.  Some comic relief makes the book fun and entertaining, while the casual tone gives the book flow and readability for almost any age, (yes, I recommend this book for young teenagers to late adults!)

The book is laid out in five sections: desiring, preparing, waiting, sweetening, and discovering a God-written love story.  Through out these five sections readers learn a treasure chest full of wisdom, knowledge, and practical applications for letting God write your love story.  Personally, chapter fourteen was my favorite.  It delt with the role parents and accountability partners play in a dating relationship.  There was also an amazing chapter on healing and forgiving the ones closest to you--your family.  The truths found throughout these chapters are applicable to people of all walks.

While the book is not founded on highly-scholastic research or great theological doctorate degrees, the simple truths are foundational to a Christian marriage.  Some may be tempted to find the lack of scholar a negative aspect, but I completely disagree.  The child-like faith and simplistic truths drive right to the heart of the matter, leaving no room for unwavering faith.

I recommend this book to any young single person searching for answers as God leads them through the season of singleness.  To order the book on Amazon click here, or to find out more about Eric and Leslie Ludy, check out their website at Ellerslie.com

Article first published as Book Review: When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Approach to Guy/Girl Relationships by Eric and Leslie Ludy on Blogcritics.

A Father Who Protects

As I stated in my last post, I recently watched the movie Courageous and absolutely loved it.  While the entire film was heart-wrenching and edifying, my favorite scene by far includes one of the fathers giving his daughter a promise ring, and a promise to go with it.

His short speech paints the perfect picture of what fathers are supposed to be from the time their daughter is born, to the day they walk her down the aisle.  God  gives us fathers to protect and guide us while we wait for our husband.  This is a channel God uses to speak, protect, love, and guide us with.  This is why the Bible makes so many references to obeying your parents.

So what if you don't have a father?  What if you have a Dad who's not a Christian?  Maybe you have a Christian Dad, but he hasn't stepped up to the plate in guarding your heart.  If you do have a Dad, regardless of his walk with the Lord--you can pray for him, encourage him, and show him respect through small acts of kindness.

No matter what your Dad situation, you do have a heavenly Father who is perfect and holy.  His grace covers any fault your earthly Dad has or had.  If you are willing to follow, submit, and listen to him, he will guide you through the courting process and lead you to the man he has picked out for you.

So many people go wrong when they say they are following God with their love life, yet they are searching, striving, and stressing about who and when they will get married.  The truth is that freedom comes from letting go.  God knows the timing, the prince, and the story, so why not let him write it the way he designed it?

In the book "When God Writes Your Love Story," Leslie Ludy writes a whole chapter on how beneficial her parents were to her courtship story with her husband Eric.

"When I first began to truly learn how to give God the pen to write my love story, one of the first things I felt Him lead me to do was to invite my parents to be on my team through prayer and accountability.  

It was as if he softly reminded me, 'Leslie, I have placed your parents in your life for a reason.  They have a special wisdom and anointing that I have given them, especially for your life.  Don't ignore the built-in teammates I've provided for you.'"

Respect your father this week.  He wants to be a part of your love story as much as God does.

A One Woman Man

Well I don't want the whole world, no

The sun, the moon, and all their light

I just want to be the only girl you love all your life

       --The Band Perry 

This one is for the guys--single guys that is.  Here's a little something to think about as you roam around the earth, doing what guys do.

I want you to know that you already have a wife.  She's out there, waiting for you.  God predestined the two of you to be together before the dawn of time.  He designed her personality, charm, body, style, character, and heart to match yours.  She is your ezer, as it translates.  Ezer simply means helper, and encourager, someone who will stand right by your side through thick and thin.  That's right, she was made to help you specifically!


God is going to give you this awesome woman to be your life partner someday.  In fact, he has been preparing both of you for quite some time now, just waiting for the perfect moment to bless both of you with each other.  Now, I will be honest, I do not know who she is.  I do not know your future wife, nor what she believes or acts like.  But, if she is anything like the wonderful Christian women in my life, I would bet a large sum of money that she thinks about you pretty often.

With all the Christian dating books, rings, and movements going on, I think women are really starting to understand the importance of their future marriage.  Almost all of my solid girl friends keep husband journals, yes, that's what we call them.  In these journals young ladies spend hours upon hours, praying and writing to their future husband.  

Many of these same Christian women are also spending lots of time learning about guarding their heart, so they won't waste time getting hurt by a Bozo.  They may be reading books, talking to God, or asking for advice, but one way or another I am sure she is faithfully waiting for you; her guide, her partner, her leader.  


Thinking about this type of faithfulness makes you wonder, what does she expect from you in return?  I think The Band Perry nailed the desperate cry of every woman's soul in regards to marriage, when the leader singer says, "I just want to be the only girl you love all your life."


Yes, even before you know your wife, she wants your commitment.  I realize this may be a huge and scary thing to do, but don't you want to be that kind of a man for her?  Eric Ludy in "When God Writes Your Love Story" puts it this way:

"Give her your heart, mind, and body now!  It's easy to run around from one shallow relationship to the next, meeting your own selfish desires.  But it takes a real man, a real lover, to keep one woman satisfied for life.  I guarantee you, the rewards of such a decision are off-the-charts amazing.  And she'll love you like a man longs to be loved."

Stop and ask yourself a few questions.  Would your wife be happy with the way you live your day-to-day life?  Would she feel loved or hurt by the way you give other women what is promised to be hers?  How can you make a commitment to her now?  What can you be praying for her about?  

Do you have what it takes to be a one woman man for life?