They Shall Not Be Ashamed

~Brittany

An Uncommon Love: Lisa and Matthew Jacobson's love story- a story of encouragement and the faithfulness of God

I don't know about you, but I love reading stories about how God miraculously brings two unique people together as one in marriage.  Because really, it truly is a miracle.  I was...well, let's just say more than a little excited when two of my favorite blog writers announced that they were going to be sharing their love story!  Yay!  Well, the anticipation has been tortuous waiting each week as they post another piece to their story each Wednesday, going back and forth between them, bringing their readers along for the ride as they share what they were thinking, learning, and going through with God directing each step in amazing ways to bring them together.  Truly a precious and amazing story!  I have been so blessed by reading their blogs and it is sooo obvious that they are still in love with each other after all these years!  They were both a little older when they married, a testimony to us young people to wait on God for His best!  It's worth waiting for, as Matthew and Lisa Jacobson so beautifully describe in their story.  God works in amazing ways!  So, without further introduction...below is the introduction to their story and the links to the first 7 chapters and I'm joining you in on the anticipation of waiting for chapter 8 to be posted on Wednesday!  :-)  Hope you enjoy! ~Breanna

An Uncommon Love: How We Met and Decided to Marry in Six Days

Matthew and I have shared our story many times over the years.  

Late into the evening with old friends. Over a cup of coffee with new friends.  At a Valentine’s Banquet. With singles who needed encouragement. With couples who could use a good laugh. And with our son’s college friends across the country.

We always tell our story together—him and me.

I think it’s mostly because he doesn’t really tell it right. He gets people to take his side in the story, but that’s just not fair. So I have to get my word in there too (and I’m already counting on you to take my part in this, okay?). I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression!

Maybe it’s not all that unusual of a story.

Single girl meets single guy.
Starts with a letter.
Ends with a kiss.
Just another love story.
Except maybe for the part where we decided to marry six days after we met.
And that we’ve been loving each other ever since.
Maybe that’s not quite so typical.
Uncommon. 

An Uncommon Love.

Yeah, that’s what he called it. And I always liked the way that sounded.  So that’s what I’ve called it too.
And that’s the story we’re going to be sharing over the next few weeks.  Him and me.

About how we knew we wanted to get married only six days after our first date.

And how before that, I declared that I wouldn’t go out with him “If he was the last man on earth”. Yet somehow ended up in his arms in the end.

It’s a  story about an ordinary guy and an ordinary girl.  A story about falling in love.
About insecurities, miscommunications, self-doubts, wonder and a kiss.
Two people looking for love and waiting on God.
In true life.

 

*Chapter One: If He Was the Last Man On Earth

*Chapter Two: Where Is She? Searching for My Forever Girl

*Chapter Three: What Happens When Mr. Right Walks Into the Room

*Chapter Four: What A Smile Can Say to Him

*Chapter Five: The Best Answer If You’re Ever Invited on An Adventure

*Chapter Six: The Night I Fell In Love

*Chapter Seven: 1,000 Ways to Win Her Heart

Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?

I just began reading Elisabeth Elliot's devotional book "Keep a Quiet Heart".   The first chapter so spoke to me and was an encouragement to me.  She began this section of the book with a little poem by Amy Carmichael that was so good, and it kind of summed up her first chapter.  I thought I'd share the main sections of the first chapter that spoke to me with the hopes that it may be an encouragement to all of you as well.  :-)  May we seek His will and wait on Him in every aspects of our lives!

~Breanna

 

"Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,

Thou art the Lord who soother the furious sea,
What matter beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee?

Hold us quiet through the age-long minute
While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:

Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?

Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?"

~Amy Carmichael

"Purity of heart, said Kierkgaard, is to will one thing.  The Son willed only one thing: the will of His Father.  That's what He came to earth to do.  Nothing else.  One whose aim is as pure as that can have a completely quiet heart, knowing what the psalmist knew: 'Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure' (Psalm 14:5 NIV).  I know of no greater simplifier for all of life.  Whatever happens is assigned.  Does the intellect balk at that? Can we say that there are things which happen to us which do not belong to our lovingly assigned 'portion' ('This belongs to it, that does not')?  Are some things, then, out of the control of the Almighty?  Every assignment is measured and controlled for my eternal good.  As I accept the given portion other options are cancelled.  Decisions become much easier, directions clearer, and hence my heart becomes inexpressibly quieter."


"A quiet heart is content with what God gives.  It is enough.  All is grace."

"Response is what matters. Remember that our forefathers were all guided by the pillar of cloud, all passed through the sea, all ate and drank the same spiritual food and drink, but God was not pleased with most of them.  Their response was all wrong...The same almighty God apportioned their experience. All events serve His will.  Some responded in faith.  Most did not.  'No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.' (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).  Think of that promise and keep a quiet heart!  Our enemy delights in disquieting us.  Our Savior and Helper delights in quieting us.  'As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you' is His promise (Is 66:13, NIV).  The choice is ours.  It depends on our willingness to see everything in God, receive all from His hand, accept with gratitude just the portion and the cup He offers."

"God came down and lived in this same world as a man.  He showed us how to live in this world, subject to its vicissitudes and necessities, that we might be changed- not into an angel or a storybook princess, not wafted into another world, but changed into saints in this world.  The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances"

"He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest."

~Linda Sandell