Thursday Night’s NightCap – Walls

Have good relationships gone bad and created walls around your heart?

Last Thursday I shared some of my humorous dating challenges and how most recently I’ve become aware of what looks like a moat formed around my heart. For the most part I feel justified in its existence. Unfortunately, this wall can only hinder others from entering in and that is not what I want. What I want is to have wisdom, trust and an open heart as I learn to love again and allow someone to love me back.

Tonight I will have my ‘Thursday Nightcap’ be a glass of my favorite Chardonnay, Raumbauer. I’ll share some thoughts on waiting and dating as we look forward to letting love back in.

First, I want you to know I’m coming out of my funk from last week! I first noticed this on my way over to the theater after church on Sunday. I stood looking at the movie board and my eyes caught the new release, ‘The Perfect Guy’ starring Michael Ealy. I immediately walked up to the window and requested my ticket, one please. No, it didn’t bother me to go to a movie alone.

Of course popcorn always helps! After all, what is a movie without popcorn? I must warn you this movie is a thriller with scenarios I feel are important to be aware of while dating. You will know what NOT to do! It definitely reinforced the many reasons one should act wisely and not rush into a relationship. After all, it’s important to give ourselves time to learn about another. Let the good, bad or indifferent surface before rushing into anything unhealthy, or dangerous for that matter!

Seriously, the saying, “You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince” was not just a random thought! Not sure about you, but I can’t envision some girl sitting under a tree, wind blowing in her face, leaning back thinking how grand it will be to kiss many men, er frogs…before she finds the handsome prince! No, I imagine that would make her throw herself face down under the tree, pounding her fists in exasperation over the many exhausting dates and bad kisses she’s experienced in hopes of finding her true love.

If only we valued our worth as women and had the wisdom to know what is not good for us, at all times. If we could say in confidence, ‘NO’ to the wrong man and mean it, versus trying to make the glass slipper fit! We would be so happy and free to give our hearts to the right one.

Which leads me to ask, have you made your list of deal breakers? What about your list of must haves? Do you feel ready to enter back into the dating world with unshakable confidence that will keep the moat away from your heart? Are you prepared for more ‘girls nights out’, solo movie nights, and tables for one while you wait for the right man? If so, you’re on the right track! You can’t help but be successful in your search as you trust in the things you know to be true and wait!

As I continue to pray over these Scriptures and work through my dating fiascos, I too am prepared for more of the above. I will press on with patience and not lose hope in love!

I’ve included some Scripture to encourage and help move you to the other side:

*Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be despised. Song of Solomon 8:7

*Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right. Song of Solomon 8:4

*May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thess 3:5

*Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Cor. 13:4-7

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Thursday Night’s Night Cap

In life we can become so busy we often forget to take notice of the people/things we love.  We forget what makes us happy! Most days begin and end with our “To Do” lists in hopes of not forgetting anything important. But what about the things we love, are they not important?

If this is you stop what you’re doing right now and grab your pen, paper, and don’t forget your Night Cap while making a list of some of the things/people you love most!  Cheers!

Things I love:

1. God & my Bible
2. My Kids, Granddaughter’s, and Family
3. Friends
4. Hugs
5. Writing/Blogging
6. The ocean
7. Blue Butterflies
8. Helping others
9. Ladybugs
10. Sunsets
11. Babies
12. Puppies
13. Long walks
14. Working out
15. Sweet Memories
16. The smell of Turkey on Thanksgiving day
17. Everything about Christmas – even busy malls
18. Meeting new people
19. Chai lattes
20. Sailing
21. A glass of wine with friends
22. Life Group
23. Hard work and a paycheck
24. Balboa Island
25. USA
26. New clothes
27. Chick flicks
28. Packing for vacation
29. Surprises  (good surprises)
30. Home

It’s amazing how a little break from the “To Do” list and mundane can bring us back to what’s truly important – the things we love. I hope this little exercise helped you as much as it did me – Sweet dreams!

Thursday Night’s NightCap

Be careful little eyes…

Ever been out with the girls or the guys for a night of fun and relaxation and have it turn into a “gripe” session? Before you know it everyone has a story to share, a problem to solve, or a need for something “different” in life because life is no longer fun!  Suddenly, what was once the good ole life has now turned into the daily task of paying bills, working a job you no longer love, cleaning a house that no longer feels peaceful, endless diapers, cranky kids, and significant others that just don’t get you!

I am sure we’ve all been there and possibly done just that, complained to our friends or perhaps anybody that would listen.  Or, maybe worse reached out for something else to dull the pain and fill the void believing it was “fun”.

With nightcap in hand (whatever that means to you..a nice cold beer, crisp glass of vino, hot chocolate or chocolate bar!) I encourage you to think about the good and positive in your life. Create a place where you can reflect, pray and plan for a better way through difficult times, the mundane and not so fun days that try to steal you away from the good ole life.

Remember, it’s a slow fade…

Thursday Night’s NightCap

 

So, I’ve decided to add a little zest to my blog by adding a Thursday Night’s “NightCap” to send you off into a deep slumber!

Tonight we have, What Tagline Speaks to You? 

Ever wonder who makes up these cute, funny and inspiring “taglines”? I do. I often wonder where they were when they thought it, said it or prayed it. I wonder if they were happy, sad, angry, fed up or just filled with deep emotion for someone or something. I am confident many of these will be familiar to you, and some you may have even quoted for one reason or another. Maybe some have been a friendly reminder of how life goes on.  My wish for you tonight is that you will find one or two that will leave you encouraged and thinking, what if…I was encouraged, happy, relieved, feeling stronger and possibly feeling freed from something. What if a word helped get me through the day or the night.  What if someone left me a word that was magical, inspiring and life changing…What if this NightCap of words resonated truth and hope within me and something changed.

Slogan/taglines:

A day without laughter is a day wasted

Accept what you can’t change. Change what you can’t accept.

Bloom where you’re planted

Counting other people’s sins does not make you a saint

Do small things with great love.

Do something each day to bring you a little closer to your dreams.

Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket.

Dreams don’t work unless you do.

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens.

Live in the moment. Live what you love. Make it happen. Make mistakes.

Please and thank you are still magic words.

Rejection is not fatal. Seize the moment.

Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places

There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.

Some of my favorite Proverbs. In a sense they’ve become my “taglines” as they bring comfort, encouragement, wisdom and inspiration to my day and night:

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul

He who walk with wise grows wise.

A gentle answer turns away wrath.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

A friend loves at all times.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.