Young Marriage

Today, I saw a blog post shared to Facebook about young marriage and how the author is for young marriage.  The author gives three reasons as to why he agrees with young marriage.  While the three points he makes are very poignant, the introduction to the piece is what caught my attention. 

He said, 

"People don’t get married anymore. If they do, then it is much later in life. In fact the age of marriage is continually going up in our culture to where it is pushing thirty. Not only has this been the trend in the culture, but I have seen this trend begin to take place in the church as well. It is my personal belief and conviction that this is absolutely detrimental to human flourishing and a cataclysmic disaster for the church.

Early marriage has become taboo in our culture. Getting married at a young age of 20 or 21 will get you some strange comments from others, including other Christians (Trust me, I’ve experienced them). However, I think we need a revival of early marriage among Christians. I think there are several reasons younger Christians need to begin adopting this counter cultural practice by marrying early."

Wow.  

Mike and I got engaged when we were 21.  We began dating when I was just barely 20.  In high school I knew I was going to marry Mike Cable, I just didn't know what God had in plan for our timing.  When we started dating in 2011,  I knew we were going to get married.  The day we started talking about possibly dating Mike said to me, "Meg, I need you to know that when I date someone, I potentially see myself marrying her."  

We weren't even dating yet.

A year later we were engaged.

A year and a half later we were married.

And now it's a month later.

Numerous people told me that we were "too young".  What exactly is "too young"?  Because we still watch the Disney Channel and eat too much candy and laugh at stupid jokes?  My mom, who got married at 21, watches Pretty Little Liars (PLL).  Last time I checked PLL is directed toward high school/college aged females (no offense momma, I love you!).  So is my mom too young because she enjoys PLL, shopping, and the occasional young, girly conversations that she and I share?

Before Mike and I got engaged my daddy and I had a trip to Louisville and on the way home we talked about marriage.  There is no man on this earth that I respect more than my daddy and his opinion.  He told me that he and mom did get married young BUT my mom was the most mature woman that he knew.  When he talked about her at the age in which they got married I could see how, in his mind, he went back to the time in which they got married.  Mom, 21, and daddy, 24.  They got married the summer she graduated from WKU and they moved to Nashville for mom to go to Law School at Vandy.  Momma was young, yes, but mature far beyond her years.  But not only that, they were so in love.  And still are.  

Growing up, our parents are our first role models, and continue to be our role models our entire lives.  They set the example for us - good or bad.  I must say, I am so so thankful for the example my parents have set for me. They were married young and in love, and here they are, 2014, in love.  (You're still young to me!)  Even with salt and pepper hair!  They showed me growing up that even when something in life goes awry, you work together as a unit, a unit of 3:  

Husband, Wife, and God.  

So, when people would say to me, "but you two are so young to be getting married," how am I to know any different?  My parents and Mike's parents married young.  That is the example that was set before us, and our parents are still so in love.  We have those examples for us, why would we want to be any different?  As Christians we should be celebrating marriage, no matter the age.  We should be praying for the marriages of our friends and family - regardless of the ages that they are.

To those of you who are a part of our lives, pray for our marriage, pray for our friends marriages, pray for our families marriages.  Pray for your friends marriages, pray for your families marriages, pray for your current or future marriage.  Pray for God to be the center.  God created love.  We love because He first loved us.  

I am the happiest I've ever been.  I am young and in love and I hope to be an example to my children one day of "young marriage".  I hope to show them love, just as my parents did.  

I am young.  I am married.  I am young and in love.

Thank you, God, for creating this beautiful love.

meg 

day nine

When God moves, God moves.  It's crazy how I have felt the Holy Spirit moving today.  When you tell God the desires of your heart and you truly believe that He will provide: He provides.

I tell Him how much I need to be involved in a small group of women at Hillvue.  

Lindsay emails Mike and invited me to small group Monday.

I tell Mike how I just need a friend from the church that I can connect with here in Bowling Green.

A girl that I had "friended" on Facebook from Passion Conference last January -- a girl I had actually never met in person at all, only had connected on Facebook -- happened to be standing next to me tonight at Hillvue.  We immediately connected and it was as if I had found a long lost friend and sister in Christ.

I've had issues with a dear friend this week.

The message tonight talked about moments when the Holy Spirit moves in your life and you have "that feeling" that you need to do something.  And by ignoring "that feeling" you're being disobedient to God.  Telling God "I just need some time." Doesn't cut it.  When God tells you to do something, by golly you do it.  

When the Holy Spirit moves, the Holy Spirit moves.

I am so incredibly thankful for Hillvue and how welcome I feel.  I have never felt so at home and so happy.  This week, take a moment to breathe and feel God's presence in your life.  See how He is moving in your daily life -- because when you do, you fall more and more in love with Him.

meg

day eight

So much to say that I'm not even sure where to begin.  Three weeks is quite a bit of time where quite a bit of change can happen. 

 And it did.  

Almost three weeks ago I was offered a job that would require me to take at least a semester off from school.  I had been praying for the ways that God would provide for Mike and I financially and this was the answer for which I knew I had been searching.  I was offered the Leasing Manager position at Campus Pointe where I have been employed for almost 2 years now, a job that I had been hoping for for a while.  After accepting the job, I found out both managers that I had an amazing relationship with would be leaving to move to other properties.  My excitement quickly subsided.  Did I really want to work somewhere where I may no longer have allies as managers?  What if we were assigned a new Property Manager that wasn't someone that I could easily work with?  I prayed for someone with which I knew I could be a team.  Again, God answered.  The assistant manager that was at our property almost a year ago was assigned to be our new Manager; she was someone that I shared an amazing relationship with -- and her relationship with God is one for the books.  So here we are, day one into my new job and I'm happier than ever, and oh so thankful.

I must be honest, after I completed my personal Bible study in James, I've slacked off -- big time.  I haven't been staying in the Word like I promised I would.  This past week I've really been wanting to find a new Bible study so that I can delve back in and feel the Holy Spirit moving.  Last week, Mike met with Keith, the Worship Pastor at Hillvue Heights where we've been attending as guests since the move to Bowling Green.  Mike is hoping to volunteer with the Worship Team during our time here.  Mike came home incredibly happy and thankful for Keith's openness to Mike volunteering.  Then yesterday, the Keith's wife, Lindsay, emails Mike inviting me to the Women's Bible Study.  Okay, God.  I see what you're doing here.  My heart had been yearning for a Bible Study -- but not only that, I prayed weeks ago for a small group that I can identify with at Hillvue.  Here it was, right in front of me.  So, just this morning did I decide to go to Bible study tonight.  And what Bible Study did I choose? Forgotten God, studying the Holy Spirit in us.

Okay.  I see you, God.

I wanted to feel the Holy Spirit moving and low and behold, I'm studying Forgotten God.  I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it feels knowing you are right where God wants you to be.  These last few weeks I've been wondering if Bowling Green really is where Mike and I are supposed to be right now.  I'm taking a semester off from school, why are we even in Bowling Green?  We could have been working in Hardin County or even Lexington.  Why on earth Bowling Green when I'm not even in school here anymore? Here it is, plain as day.  I needed this small group of women at Hillvue Heights.  I needed to feel the Holy Spirit move with other women of God.  

I'm right where I need to be.

We're right where we need to be.

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

At such a time as this.  Esther came to be Queen at a time where she could save the people of her heritage.  It was the perfect time.  She was right where she needed to be at such a time as that one.  It's stories like Esther's that remind me that we are in certain places in our lives, physically and not, at just the right time.

I am thankful for God's timing and the Holy Spirit that is moving in my life.  Take a moment to feel the Holy Spirit tonight.  Allow His mighty love and peace fill you.

May God bless you and keep you at such a time as this.

meg