Sunday, January 19, 2014

Our Love Story: Our Very First Meeting That Neither One of Us Remembers


Here I am, with the first part of our Love Story. Since Roman and I have been back to Linz this weekend, the place where we first met, I thought that it would be good to start publishing our story. The funny thing is that neither one of us remembers the first meeting. But we do remember some things that make us sure that we actually talked to each other shortly. 

We were both attending GYC in Europe, a youth congress, at the end of July, 2012. Roman had been an Adventist for less than two years at that time and he was just realizing more and more the importance of being closer to God. For him the congress was more a time of reflection. When he was not in the meetings, He spent time alone reflecting on God and what he had heard. 

I, on the other hand, had a very busy congress. I was heavily involved with the prayer room and spent there most of my time there. I prayed with, talked to and counseled people... I hardly had time to attend the meetings. The prayer room absorbed most of my time. 

Here is what Roman remembers from our encounter: he decided to go to the prayer room to pray. When he got there it was noisy because people were talking, so he went to someone who seemed to be a leader, a curly-haired girl with glasses, and asked her if he could have some quietness because he wanted to pray. The girl understood and they stopped talking.

Well, I was the only curly hair girl with glasses in the team, so it was not hard to figure out who he talked to. But I also have some memories of our meeting. 

Here is what I remember: we had just finished a prayer session and I was doing what I always like to do - socialize with people, talk to them, hear their stories, their burdens or what God has done for them. So, I was talking to some people, when someone came to me and asked me if it is possible to have some silence because he wanted to pray. He was polite, but firm. His wish was granted! :)

Little did we know at that time that we will meet again in eight months at another youth congress and that our conversation will go beyond: "May I have some quietness, please? I would like to pray." Actually, we had some very deep spiritual conversations. But that is for another blog entry! :-)
  
To read the rest of our Love Story go here:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6


Friday, January 17, 2014

Faces of Love: Love Is Long-Suffering


One thing that I learned from my precious husband-to-be is to try to find spiritual applications in the smallest things. The other day I was not feeling well so I was taking a hot and cold shower. And while I was taking the shower it dawned on me that if the water is very hot, after being under the hot water for a while, I do not have a problem switching to the cold water. But if the water is lukewarm, you can pay me and I won't go under the cold shower. I have also seen that after being under the cold water I can take even a hotter shower.

Let's say that the water is our love. If we truly love God (fact represented by the hot water), it is easier to go through trials (represented by the cold water) because we know He loves us, too, and will not allow anything that it is not for our best. We will not murmur and complain, but will trust in His love and wisdom. If we truly love someone, trials will not take away the love that we have for each other, but will only make it stronger.

But if our love is not genuine, if we have a divided heart (represented by the lukewarm water), we will not be able to stand when going through trials (represented again by cold water). We will accuse God and we will not trust His wisdom. If we do not have genuine love for others, trials will only divide and drive us further and further away from each other!

No wonder God is telling the church in Laodicea that, because they are lukewarm, He will vomit them from His mouth. He does not want a divided heart, just as any husband or wife would not want a spouse with a divided heart.

Lord, give me a love that is fervent and long-suffering. 


Thursday, January 16, 2014

I Am Getting Married!


After seven beautiful months of courtship, after praying and fasting and asking God for His guidance, about a month ago, my then boyfriend asked me to marry him. I am planning on sharing the story with you in the near future and I will start with the very beginning, so stay tunned! 

Looking back we are amazed of the way God orchestrated everything 
and scripted our love story. 
We are looking forward to spending our lives together 
and working for God together. 
Keep us in your prayers as we make plans for our wedding (that will be quite international with Romanian, German and English as languages:-) and try to glorify God though every single aspect.