As She let God in, she started to see life from a new perspective.
She became alive again.
She laughs.
She sings.
The more she seeks God, the more He unveils her beauty.
She is restored.
She is fearless.
She is captivating, because she is His.
https://hylachamberlain.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/the-hardest-story-to-tell-mine/
James 3:9-11 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men. who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt flow in the same spring?”
I’ve been learning a lot about the power of words especially the ones spoken to my husband. Wives I am amazed at the power we have with what we say to our men.
I have watched my husband slowly become a more confident person by my encouraging words. This is a life long skill for me. Because sometimes I am guilty of wanting to mix salt with water. But when I shut the mouth of this lion and let the encouraging words flow I see him grow.
Words are powerful.
They kill or build.
Our husbands live for our joy and assurance. When I am short with my beloved I see it on his face “I have failed my wife” this breaks my heart. We stop. We discuss. We forgive. Those moments hurt the most because that’s not what God wants me to be. He wants me to encourage Peter as he carry’s the weight of leading our family.
Peter used to say he cant learn new skills, but never gave me a reason. Just said “cant”. That’s when I realized the more God was working on my heart as I am learning to become an encouraging wife the more I encouraged him. I have loved watching him learn new skills and try new things.
Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Frilly dresses, tutus, crowns, glass slippers, and glitter….I love it all!
Some caution their daughters dressing up as a princess because they are imitating what they have see on the screen. Although we don’t agree with the morals in the Disney princess movies we do agree with one thing. There is a Prince and what they are pretending to be is what they are…
This is such a beautiful reminder of God’s love for us.
When we accept Christ as our savoir we then become apart of his family.
1 John 3:1a See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
These imaginative moments are beautiful opportunities of sharing truth into the little princesses lives as they grow. The world may try and taint our princesses hearts through their lens, but that is because they do not know that….
at 4 our girls are princesses, at 12 they still are princesses even at 16. You see once a princess always a princess.
The glass slippers may be kicked off and dresses are now jeans, but in her heart she knows shes the daughter of the King.
For those who work with youth I want you to know that what you say is impactful. Reading the small pieces of my youthful heart my youth leader encouraged me to start a blog.
“You should start a blog.”
Those powerful words of encouragement year after year started to make me wonder if maybe my writings are worth reading and maybe she isn’t just being nice. Her blog is here! When I started sharing my poems with my cousins and a few other people I became more confident in my writing and that is when the blog began.
So at 16 I kept my journals close and at 20 I published my first writing.
My blog was mine a few years ago before it became ours. In fact it was hidden in journals before even publishing. Some of my writings are about ten years old.
I am believer and I believe I was given a gift. My spelling may be off and my grammer well…lets not talk about that. My only hope for this blog is that if glorifies God and encourages others in their seasons that they are going through as well.
My husband and I have one of these and we love it!
What I love about these is you can make them how ever you want!
You don’t have to use a mason jar like us. A simple list might just do the trick.
Dates:
Romantic:
*Bed and breakfast *go to a hotel *hiking *go to a flower nursery and buy some *he makes dinner while she gets ready *he surprises her with a new dress and a note that says “be ready by…” *cute love notes everywhere before spouse comes home
Out side: *pic nic *walks *beach day *horse back riding *fair *zoo
Active:
*play a two player sport together(tennis, bad mitten, throw a frisbee, ect.) *fishing *swing dancing *bowling *wall climbing *canoeing *skiing *running *hiking *walks *sign up for a run *ice skating *larping
Indoor:
*baking *cooking *gaming *build something *get artsy (paint, color, draw ect.) *Do the holiday things (carve pumpkins, gingerbread houses, decorate, bake, dress up, ect.) *movie *restaurant *board games *coffee date *Indoor picnic *arcade
Adventure:
*double date *Go see a play *glass blowing *go to an art gallery or a museum *Monster truck show *go to a different restaurant for a three course meal
Sharing:
*read something together *share your favorite Bible verse/story and why? *share what Bible character you think you are most like and why? *Take quizzes online to get to know each other
The list could go on…..what are some other great ideas for a date?
My Doctrinal Statement of Faith Concerning The Bible
The Bible is the Word of God and is infalible, innerant and immutable. It is inspired by God and God alone as the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit to write the words of God, and yet keeping their personalities and styles of writing. It is comprehensive and complete, historically accurate through internal and external proofs, grammatically accurate, and unique in comparison to any other religious article.
-Peter Echols
They believe her screams are tantrums. I know they are screams for help.
Only a help God can give. Because he knows her deepest cries.
They say her tears are attention seeking. And they are, the attention she always needs.
They rebuke me for holding her close. I wont apologize for making up what was lost.
They shake their heads at her delays. Well…. pardon her progress.
Shes seen as the worlds misfit. Soon she will learn it’s a good thing to be.
Some see a monster….I see my child.
More here:
This October Peter and I be going to Bible school!
Contenders Discipleship initiative is a free two year Bible school that gives Biblical education while mentoring students for full time ministry.
I never thought of even going back to school. But when we were told it was for FREE and it is two years of indepth Biblical education we could not pass up the opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to having a schedule for reading my Bible and growing spiritually as couple and as a wife.” -Mihaela
“I’m looking forward to how indepth it all is and for all the training. I will be very equipped for ministry and would like to grow in that area.” -Peter
Please be praying for us on Monday and Thursday nights we will be in class.
Interested in going? Contenders
We have too many things in our lives and too many directions we can be pulled. Where do we start to line up our priorities? What things mean the most to us in the end?
In this life as Christians our first priority must be Christ and the relationship that we have with Him. Yes our very first which means it comes before our marriage, friends, work, hobbies, etc……Some would argue otherwise but the Bible makes it very clear about where are priorities should be.
As I write, the word purpose seems to be intertwined tightly with priorities. If we don’t have a purpose there is no need to make priorities. You must have a purpose first.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you were once not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1st Peter 2:9-10
Peter is reminding the Jews who believed in Christ and were scattered throughout many parts of the nations that they are God’s people. And just like Christians who are scattered around the world today our purpose, because of His great mercy is to glorify Him. This now leads us to prioritize our life accordingly.
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1st Peter 2:24
A Godly life isn’t only for certain people it’s for everyone. If we make Christ our top priority we can:
*Grow and walk in righteousness
*Die to sin
*Become more and more of a godly friend, husband/wife, father/mother, etc
*Pursue and love the Lord more and more each day
*Give everything we have sacrificially for Christ
*Be an effective evangelist in all ways and forms
So with all of that in mind is our priority Christ and the time we give to him?
Or is it just Sunday from 9 to 11?
When you wake up in the morning what are the first things that come to your mind?
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When I started writing and thinking about what to post for our big year anniversary this writing started off very gloomy, but then…
I recalled our vows.
I recalled the day
I recalled our Purpose .
As I was looking through my pictures trying to figure out what to post for our big one year anniversary I new I couldn’t come up with a bright and happy one it wouldn’t of been the right fit.
When I look at this picture I see our year unfold.
It was exactly what you see when you look a little deeper with me.
It was grey.
It was Peter loving me unconditionally.
It was me wondering why and yet still leaning in wanting to trust him but didn’t know how.
It was me not always wanting to make eye contact.
It was Peter always seeing me as beautiful even if I didn’t act that way.
Like I have mentioned in a few other writings before our first year was not a honeymoon it was a spiritual battle of thorns. Through and through we know that God is bigger and he has only made us stronger in the midst of it all. We learned so much together and I am so thankful to have a husband who is completely in love with Lord.
Peters Vows:
Mihaela, meeting you 3 years ago I had no idea I would be standing here today getting married to you. You have been involved in my life these last three years always around to talk to and to listen too. Our friendship slowly grew and grew encouraging each other in our walk with Christ.
I stand before you today Mihaela to make my vows to you. I vow to hold your hand in sickness and in health. I vow to always encourage and support your walk with Christ. I vow to be your best friend and walk through life together. I vow to give myself up for you, to die to myself daily.
My Vows:
Peter even before we started dating you were always encouraging me in my walk with Christ through prayer. Because of you I have learned to trust again. I love you. Years I have prayed for you, and God has blessed me more than I ever imagined. Now and forever I promise to hold your hand in the battle field of life. I promise to be an encourager, your helper, your lover, your prayer warrior, and your companion. I promise to laugh, cry, and dream with you. I promise to die to myself every day for you. To love you through all our seasons.
(Here I took off my purity ring and continued the vows. Ring off.)
The ring I am wearing is in the shape of a heart. This is symbolizing through being restored in Christ is my purity to you. My new ring will symbolize a promise to be forever yours with commitment I am making before God and man today.
Hylaandpeterechols.com 