I desire to do your will, my God

It has been quite some time since I last posted any updates in The Boles Life, so I apologize to the half dozen or so people who actually read it. J I appreciate those of you who are interested in our lives.

The last few months have been a whirlwind of activities with church, work, family, Christmas and just life itself. In October and November we presented the drama Deceived at The Evangel Temple. It was incredible to see the powerful response and the souls eternally changed. In five nights, thousands of people surrendered their lives to the Lord. The drama ministry continued in December with Messiah where again the Lord met us in a powerful way! It is an indescribable blessing to be even a small part of something with such an impact on the Kingdom of Heaven.

Final Heaven scene from Deceived

The busy excitement of the drama ministry at church was also merged with the busyness of our daily lives and Christmas holidays. Daniel and my first Christmas as a married couple was very special and very stressful. More than a few times I thought I was just going to throw in the towel and stay at home instead of trying to cram in every family gathering in such a short amount of time without missing someone and leaving hurt feelings behind. Somehow we managed though, in part thanks to my Dad holding off on our family Christmas until New Years Eve. And sadly, I did miss my Snowden family and my Batesville family, including my cousin’s engagement. L But I hope to see them soon.

We are excited and expectant for 2012 to be an incredible year! Starting with a new baby…Madelyn Grace White will arrive in April to my twin sister, Jamie, and brother-in-law, Jake. That makes niece #5 for Daniel and me…with 0 nephews. (No pressure for Daniel and I to one day bring a boy into our families..lol!)

I’m also incredibly excited about the direction the Lord is leading our church in 2012! I have faith that we will see immense growth, blessings and miracles! I am so thankful that the Lord is still working through his people on Earth today, and that I am able to be a part of it! I pray for the Lord’s guidance in this new year, and that His will manifest itself through me, His faithful people and His church.

Psalms 40:5, 8-10, 16

⁵ Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.
⁸ I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
 ⁹ I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know.
¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.  I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.
¹⁶ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”

I don’t believe in coincidence…

For some reason lately I’ve felt such a discontentment with my day-to-day…am I making a difference in the Lord’s Kingdom? What can I do? Am I being obedient to the Lord’s plan in my life? And I occasionally fight the tinge of envy that creeps into my heart when I see others who are able to devote 100 percent of their lives to sharing God’s love with others. My mind keeps wondering back to the thought, “The Lord didn’t move me across the state and put me in a family whose entire lives are devoted to His ministry so I can sit around and twiddle my thumbs.”

Every move, every circumstance that brought me to the place I am today was orchestrated by my Father. If any single move had been different, I would not be in Meridian, Miss. today.

The chain of events began in the spring of 2007 when I attended the Communications Career Fair at Mississippi State University. One single encounter at that career fair led to a series of events that have forever changed my life. I moved in with my grandparents in Newton County that summer to begin a summer internship with East Mississippi Electric Power Association in Meridian, which led to graduate school at Southern Miss, another internship with South Mississippi Electric Power Association in Hattiesburg and ultimately an offer to return to Meridian full-time at EMEPA. I’m still amazed at the way things worked out…every opportunity came from being at the right place, at the right time, with the right people. That’s not coincidence; that’s God.

After learning of the details that brought me to Meridian, a friend told me, “isn’t it amazing the smallest details that the Lord will work out in your life if you’re seeking Him?” But what amazes me most is that at that point in my life, I’m not proud to admit, I wasn’t seeking Him. Don’t get me wrong, I’d grown up in a Christian home and I knew and loved the Lord…but to say I had an intimate relationship with Him, or even understood the need or desire to have one, wouldn’t be truthful. But my Holy Father loved me so much, that he carried me through that season of my life despite my disobedience to Him. That truly brings me to my knees in awe of His indescribable love and sovereignty. He knew that eventually my eyes would be uncovered to His truth, and He had a specific purpose for my life.

Since making the permanent move to Meridian nearly three years ago, that plan for my life has begun to manifest itself, though it’s nowhere close to being complete or even fully known. But, I know now, the Lord had to move me here so I could find Him and so I could find my husband, Daniel. I know He has so much more in store for my life. This new chapter of total devotion to Him is only just beginning, and I’m seeking diligently His purpose and plan for my future. And there it is again, that thought, “The Lord didn’t move me across the state and put me in a family whose entire lives are devoted to His ministry so I can sit around and twiddle my thumbs.” I desire to use every ounce of my life for His glory! And I pray continuously that the Lord will continue to reveal His plan for my life.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Phil 1:3

Fall is without a doubt my absolute favorite time of year! I can feel the excitement growing inside me. The crisp coolness that allows you to finally wear your cute new sweaters and boots, beautiful fall colors, the best family filled holidays – Thanksgiving and the anticipation of Christmas, and of course. College football!! What is there to not love about this time of year?

And finally, it is upon us! The first game of the season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs! It makes me smile to see nearly all of my coworkers decked out in their Maroon as they excited drift around the office waiting for the work day to end and football to begin! Oh look, there goes another Maroon shirt…this is fun! J

This football season fills my heart with just a bit more joy than usual. It’s because it makes me stop and take a moment to think back to this time last year. To the simple “Hey” text messages I started getting last fall from Daniel (not the one from the Lion’s Den) Boles that never failed to bring a smile to my face. My heart fills with joy to think back to those days…when we barely knew each other (yet had awkwardly been staring at each other for quite some time at church). To the nervousness I felt the first time we had a real conversation. And to our first date last October to the MSU verse Kentucky football game!

It’s amazing how things can change in a single year. Seven months after that first date to an MSU football game, I was walking down the aisle to my future, to the Lord’s ultimate blessing in my life. And almost a year later, my love for him continues to grow day by day. My world completely changed last fall, and I will be forever grateful.

Wrigley's New Do

Last week was Wrigley's visit to the groomer as he prepared for Back to School season. No, Wrigley's obviously not headed to school - he might be my "fur" child, but I do realize that he is not an actual human being. But his dad was headed back to school (work), which means Wrigley was headed back outside to the yard, and all that hair tends to make him a tad on the warm side in the summer heat.

He was so excited to be headed somewhere - he loves to be on the go. He was prancing along side me on his leash just as happy as good be until the very moment the door to the groomer opened. It was like an automatic reflex...he stopped dead in his tracks, made a 180 degree turn and tried to take off, only to be yanked back by the leash. Poor thing, he remembers well his last experience...we weren't too pleased with his cut. But this time was much better.

BEFORE

AFTER

He's much cooler and just as handsome as can be. Now, next challenge - readjust to being outside. His memory of ever having stayed outside while I was at work during the day has been erased by his luxurious summer of being indoors with his new dad. That'll be a whole new adventure!

I'm going to Dance

And David danced before the LORD with all his might....2 Samuel 6:14a

I want to dance. No, not because I'm a good dancer (I"m not) or even because I'd enjoy the excercise benefit from it. I want to dance because my love for my Savior is so immensely overwhelming that I can't hold still. A love that's so incredible, it's beyond human ability to comprehend...and that's describing my love for Christ. His love for me is even further beyond measure.

Excitement is growing in my heart, and I question how I ever lived a life where Christ wasn't the center. Sure, I've known Jesus Christ as my Savior for most of my life as I grew up in a Christian home. But to know Him in the deep, personal way that I long for now is the most satisfying, joy-inducing pleasure I have ever known. A day where I"m not seeking hard after Him, is a day that's not worth living. And I want to live everyday to the fullest with Christ by my side, with His love burning so hot in my heart that it spreads like a wild fire from me into others around me.

As my father-in-law often says, can you imagine a day when people tailgate outside the church all weekend waiting for Sunday morning, like football fans tailgate for hours waiting to watch men with helmets smash into each other chasing after a pig skin? Don't get me wrong, football season is my favorite time of year (Go Dawgs!), but my desire is to chase after Christ with an even greater urgency.

So, I'm gonna dance and I'm going to dance with all my might, just like David.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

...pretty fabulous!

How's married life? That is the question that I hear most often these days. And to answer it simply...it's pretty fabulous! Of course there are changes we're both getting used to, but I love coming home to my family - as small as it may be with just Daniel, Wrigley and me. Wrigley is becoming more spoiled than ever ....

...really? Is that comfortable little Wrig?

Anyway, I just love having my husband around even when we're doing our own separate things. Like right now for instance...as I'm updating our blog, he's next to me on his keyboard (wearing his headset though, so I can't hear what he's playing).

Of course as with any couple, there are things that bug us...I wish he didn't place Xbox Live so much (though that's his "brother time" with Jonathan, and I don't want to interfere with that of course) and he has this crazy thing about not excercising when I ask if he wants to go walking with me...something about being too soon after marriage to start excercising? I know...weird, right? I didn't know there was a "No Excercise" time frame after getting married, but whatever. There are things I do that bug him too though...like not making eye contact when I'm irritated. Oh well, those are little things that make us who we are.

So, in a nutshell...marriage is fabulous! And being married to Daniel Boles is hysterical...I laugh more than ever before. I'm happier than ever before. I feel like I can just be me, and he loves me for that. We're not perfect, but we fit together perfectly. And Wrigley is just the cherry on top to our beautiful little family.

One of our first home cooked dinners together. It may  not look like much, but hey, it's a start for the couple that's only eaten at home twice in almost two months of marriage.

Untill next time...have a fabulous and blessed life!

God Bless America!

So last week was the Fourth of July, and in celebration, Daniel and his cousin Dusty dressed up like our Nation's founding fathers as they played music from The Patriot during Sunday morning church. I just couldn't help myself from sharing this picture with the world...isn't he adorable?

After church we headed to Madison to spend the Fourth of July with my family on Lake Caroline.