Confession Letters

This past Sunday was an explosion of God moving for me personally. Leading “Your Name Is Glorious”, the touch of God on me mixed with His presence in that room pushed me to a place I have never been. Someone happen to live stream the worship service so I decided to go back and watch it.

😳

Um. Wow. I look like a fool. I mean a complete fool like no one can possibly make an excuse for me, kind of fool. Yet in the moment it was so freeing. It was so natural. I didn’t even realize I worshipped like that. I just remember being so in love with God and in that moment I wanted Him to have all of me.

Over the next 24 hours I began to wonder if I should tone it down. No one has asked me to – but perhaps I should contain it a little bit. After all, I wouldn’t want to offend anyone in this day and age. [Enter in complete sarcasm here 😂]

This morning, a friend of mine randomly sent me this video to watch. Man, she nor I had any idea what God was getting ready to say to me. [An example of the importance of doing when God says do]

Watch “The Unfiltered Life” by Stephanie Gretzinger  The only part that was for me is in the very beginning when she speaks of her worship and how she doesn’t want to stay where she is… it’s only going to get crazier  🙌🏻

Oh! And how about the part where she says the congregation isn’t stupid, they can see performance instead of worship  You can’t have performance in the presence. Slam!!!!!

My worship (my way of worship) may be radical for some and over the top for others, it may be misunderstood or interpreted wrongly. Please allow me to explain why I worship the way I do:

1. God gave me forgiveness for every wrong action and choice in my life

2. God brought me out of an unhealthy marriage at the age of 18

3. God brought me through a horrible battle with my body and healed me of all the harmful things I had done to it blessing me with two beautiful children

4. God fathered me through the emotional hurt of a miscarriage

5. God showed me I am of value to Him when I was at my lowest

6. God literally saved me from myself

And every other skeleton in my closet – there are just some things people don’t need to know – He Saved Me. God loved me when I was unlovable to the world. God held me when I was at my lowest and pushed me out of the nest because He knew what I would become for His kingdom.

I worship the way I do because I AM FREE. Break the box of your own worship. When you do something different – you get something different.

So in conclusion, I won’t apologize for the way I worship because my worship comes from a heart of gratefulness to God no one may ever understand.

When you realize what God has brought you out of and where He has you now… you will worship unapologetically too.

I have read many articles and listened to many speakers regarding this subject. A marriage blog titled “3 Things Women Want From Their Husbands” came up in my Facebook feed this morning so I read it. I decided to share their three things but added a fourth one of my own to the mix. 

Positivity | Security | Appreciation | Sexual & Nonsexual Affection (not necessarily in this order)

1. Positivity. Cynicism and sarcasm have their place, but nobody wants to be with someone who is sarcastic and cynical all of the time. It’s exhausting. Being in the presence of someone with a positive outlook on life can actually be energizing. An optimistic husband makes his wife feel good and that positivity is contagious, even inspiring. (From blog on http://www.marriage365.org)

2. Security. A woman will feel safe with a man who is emotionally available, honest, trustworthy, and authentic. These are emotional character strengths she can respect and admire in her husband. A man of character and emotional depth is a man who knows who he is and likes himself. His strength is not physical so much as it is in the clarity of his mind and emotions. These are character strengths that a wife not only admires, but feels safe with. He is not a weak man that will bend to the whims of other people. She can trust him to be who he is. (From blog on http://www.marriage365.org)

3. Appreciation. All women want to feel appreciated. Women manage a lot on a day to day basis and don’t get a lot of credit. A statement such as, “Hey babe, thanks for making dinner tonight. I really appreciate it,” shows consideration and shows you don’t take your wife for granted. An honest thank you is worth a thousand words. Remember that your words are life giving to those around you. (From blog on http://www.marriage365.org)

I would add a fourth item to this list. Sexual/Nonsexual affection. Men have the reputation for being the one on the marriage who desire this but women desire to feel beautiful, wanted, and desires just as much as a man does. In fact, I have known marriages where the stereotypical marriage was not present and the wife had a stronger desire than the husband. Sexual affection is far different than nonsexual affection. This is why it’s important to have both. 

Sexual affection lets a wife know she is sexy/desired, that SHE is her husband’s fantasy, and she is all he needs to fulfill his desires. Nonsexual affection lets a wife know her husband loves her, is thinking about her, appreciates her, and is in love with her. 
[Yes, “loving” someone and being “in love” with someone are two completely different things. This is another subject for another day.] 

These things are vital. They might as well be air, food, and water for a marriage. When you are not receiving these things it is easy to begin thinking negative thoughts regarding your marriage. This is why open communication is so important so both spouses are on the same page. 

What does the Bible say about our marriage relationship?

“Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.“ (Genesis 2:25) // we should be physically comfortable with each other naked and we should be emotionally vulnerable with each other

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) // do not set the standards of your marriage based on this world, ask God to show you (and change you if needed) to meet the standards He has set for marriage

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) // marriage is not going to be perfect, so don’t expect it to be and love your spouse through working through it

“But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself.” (Proverbs 6:32) // male or female, you hurt your spouse and yourself, this is not only physical affairs, emotional affairs break trust and build walls too

“I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) // mental monogamy is as important as physical monogamy for both genders 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6) // what better advice than this, pray through it all and trust God continuously, marriage is not a perfect ride but it will be much, much easier with Him

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) // respect each other and places their needs before yours, what is important to your spouse should be important to you

“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) // this verse has a pretty high standard, husbands have a standard to reach here but wives have a standard of how we are to respond to Christ, therefore responding to our husband

1 Corinthians 13 // get your pencil out and start checking things off the list

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32) // be sensitive and tender hearted to each other

For more detail on these scriptures click here. 

It’s been a while since I have blogged. A lot has happen in the last six months:

I am now a published author! You can purchase the book here or here.Jade Getchell is one contributing author in “Wounded Healers.” Twelve women boldly take us deep into the events that led them through the pitfalls and the heartaches during the darkest days of their life… The stories are raw, transparent, personal and, at times, gut-wrenching.Each narrative paints a vivid picture of their triumph and victory in finding faith and how it changed the course of their lives and the lives of their families.

These courageous women offer stories that are real and relatable. Moreover, they will inspire and challenge you to honestly assess every aspect of your life.

The royalties from your purchase of this publication will go to Freedom Service Dogs of America. A non-profit organization that all twelve authors agreed to support wholeheartly.  The specially trained dogs enhance the lives of people in many communities.  “Clients include children, veterans and active duty military, and other adults. Their disabilities include autism, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

I am expecting! That’s right, we are going to be having a little girl in a few short weeks. God is SUCH a good God that HE has not only made a way for me to be home with our oldest child since last June, He has provided everything we needed since then and more. As of today, I am 34 weeks, going on 35 weeks pregnant. I can’t wait for this sweet little girl to get here.

God has also brought me through some extreme situations and taught me to lean on Him even more. Sometimes it seems like I hit a situation that I just can’t imagine getting through – and yet I do. This was some of those moments. Moments only God and I will ever know about but moments I know have made me stronger. If God ever presses me to, I will share these moments with the open world, but for now, they remain quiet.

My goal is to blog more often, but with a new baby on the way – no promises! (haha). I hope you will support the book and the non-profit it supports. Any opportunity to change lives for Jesus is one that is worth it!