I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy…
It’s been a
few weeks since my last entry, because I got married last weekend and so I took
a hiatus from blogging. My new name is Natalie Ford, but I’ll continue to write
as Natalie Flake so my website will stay the same.
few weeks since my last entry, because I got married last weekend and so I took
a hiatus from blogging. My new name is Natalie Ford, but I’ll continue to write
as Natalie Flake so my website will stay the same.
Our wedding
day was perfect! The weather was absolutely gorgeous. We were so humbled by the
number of guests who came to share in our special day. My groom looked so
handsome, and my daughter was glowing as she walked me down the aisle. A friend
even told me that as the musicians sang, “Love Song” by Third Day, a yellow
butterfly fluttered over the crowd, as if it was celebrating with us.
day was perfect! The weather was absolutely gorgeous. We were so humbled by the
number of guests who came to share in our special day. My groom looked so
handsome, and my daughter was glowing as she walked me down the aisle. A friend
even told me that as the musicians sang, “Love Song” by Third Day, a yellow
butterfly fluttered over the crowd, as if it was celebrating with us.
We are
ecstatic about what God is doing in our lives. He truly has turned our tears to
joy. Jeff and I have reflected on God’s goodness in bringing us together so
many times. This is a year of jubilee in my life!
ecstatic about what God is doing in our lives. He truly has turned our tears to
joy. Jeff and I have reflected on God’s goodness in bringing us together so
many times. This is a year of jubilee in my life!
Saturday
night was our first night together as a married couple in our home, and the dog
barked all night long. On our way to church Sunday morning, the reason became
all too clear. Our pesky neighborhood bear came a callin’.
night was our first night together as a married couple in our home, and the dog
barked all night long. On our way to church Sunday morning, the reason became
all too clear. Our pesky neighborhood bear came a callin’.
You see,
while we were basking in God’s goodness, the bear was busy digging up our
trash. Isn’t this how Satan works? God wants us to experience his joy and peace,
but the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. There have been so many times
in the past when I’ve let Satan steal my joy by changing my focus to my “past
garbage” or to difficult circumstances. We have to be on defense, meditating on
the Word and clinging to Christ.
while we were basking in God’s goodness, the bear was busy digging up our
trash. Isn’t this how Satan works? God wants us to experience his joy and peace,
but the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. There have been so many times
in the past when I’ve let Satan steal my joy by changing my focus to my “past
garbage” or to difficult circumstances. We have to be on defense, meditating on
the Word and clinging to Christ.
God has
made all things new. He is our Redeemer. He is our Peace. He is Perfect Love. Don’t
let the enemy throw your trash in your face to paralyze you from moving forward.
Celebrate the greatness of our Father!
made all things new. He is our Redeemer. He is our Peace. He is Perfect Love. Don’t
let the enemy throw your trash in your face to paralyze you from moving forward.
Celebrate the greatness of our Father!
This is wonderful for me to read this morning. Thank You Natalie for this important reminder as God also takes me down a path of Joy, but the enemy is trying to also throw stumbling blocks. Your message here really spoke to me. I am SO excited for You and Jeff and not to also forget Jorjanne as well. Love you all!