.. opening my clenched fists...

friends wanting to meet my "new friend" we were invited to dinner by a very close one and her husband..

great food, fun, laughter and some really deep conversations.. this is what transpired..

long distance intentional dating...  ( what a big word.. sounds scary just by itself.. ) comes with it's own set of challenges.. with a lot of questions too, and ultimately one wonders how to figure it all out..

these amazing and godly friends, who are just embarking on a new and big and "out there" adventure themselves, shared some of their insight with us...

it's all, once again, about surrendering ...

SURRENDER ( as found in the Webster's Dictionary from 1828 )
To yield; to give up; to resign in favor of another; as, to surrender a right or privilege;
The act of yielding or resigning one's person or the possession of something, into the power of another

its all, once again, about seeking Him first and all things will fall into place..

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Matthew 6:31-34

it's all about focusing on one thing at a time..  first question is, is it God's will for us to be together .. focusing on one thing, not making the answer to that question dependent on how it will and can work itself out, but finding the answer for the first question first.. ( duh.. it is so simple really..)

because, if it is, then God will have the answers to the rest of the more detailed questions too..
where and when and how and all of that..

when doing this, we shift our focus to where it needs to be... on the One that knows the beginning from the end ( and ONLY He does.. ) He also is the one that is in control.. so really, rather than getting lost focusing on the details, and maybe messing it up all together, the focus NEEDS to be on Him...

it was to be expected that the Lord would use His blessings, like the trials He allows, to teach us to look to Him first, to depend on Him, to trust Him and obey Him..

so patiently we will wait on the Lord.. not easy, but the only way to make sure we are in God's will..

there is no other way.. I do NOT want to step out from under the umbrella of God's authority.. it's the only place to know His peace, blessing, joy and love...and His protection ...

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10