Words of Faith: Natalie's story on trust

Faith, Hope, and Love
A Words of Faith story written by Natalie Monk

One definition of faith is trust. In relationships, trust is as important as love.

I was reminded of this yesterday when an older man shared how he met and married his wife. His father-in-law-to-be wasn’t too keen on the match but, seeing his daughter had made her choice, decided to have a talk with the young man.

The girl’s father said, “Son, there’s one question I need you to answer before you can marry my girl.”

“What’s that?” the suitor asked.

The dad leaned forward. “You trust her?”

The fellow balked, “I-I love her.”

“That’s not what I asked. You can love without trust, but that will make for a miserable marriage if you’re always wondering about her faithfulness.”

Finally the young man answered, “Yes, I trust her.”

“Can she trust you?” the father asked.

The young man hesitated, since he was well known as a carouser and all around mischief-maker.

The father-in-law-to-be continued, “I don’t need to know where my wife is, who she’s with, and what she’s doing all hours of the day. I don’t worry about that…because I know where she’s not. I know who she’s not with. I know what she’s not doing. I trust her. That’s something that’s gotta be earned, son. I know my daughter loves you. But if she can’t trust you, she’ll have a miserable life. I don’t want that for her.”

Of course, things eventually worked out and the lovebirds married. Decades later, they’re now enjoying their children and grandchildren.

But the story stuck in my head, namely the part about love and trust.

We love God…but do we really trust Him? Does He influence every decision in our lives, big and small, especially during the hard seasons of waiting or facing the unknown?

Last year I had a fairly steady income teaching piano, a set schedule, and familiar routine.

I was comfortable.

Then my dad resigned the church he’d pastored since I was a young teenager. Having bathed the whole situation in prayer during the previous year, my dad stepped out on faith, sure of God’s direction, but that’s about it.

How did this affect me? We have a family singing group, and as I’m still living at home, we’ve always traveled with my dad and sung where he preached.

Dad’s phone began to ring, and pastors we knew scheduled him to preach revival meetings at their churches across the country.

As our schedule got busier, I felt God leading me to cancel my piano lessons. That’s where love and trust once again met at a crossroads for me. Would I venture out on faith like Dad or stick with the familiar? Tell my family (and God), “Sorry, I can’t give this up right now, you’ll have to manage without me”? What would people think of me, traveling with my parents, 27 years old and still unmarried, with no other “real” occupation except the hope of publishing a novel. There are loads of pressure in a choice like that.

Then came the game-changer. Nothing new. In fact, it was more an accumulation of “old” things. Memories of times God had seen my family through when there seemed to be no solution. God has never let me down. He’s earned my trust through years of faithfulness. Not because He has to, but because that’s who He is.

I must smile as I admit He’d been working me around to His point of view for some time, I just hadn’t seen it.

When God wants you to step out in faith, but you don’t want to leave what’s familiar and comfortable, God can make “comfortable” become uncomfortable, so much that stepping away from it is now a relief. Then we discover the joy of God’s presence (Psalm 16:11), and the blessings which follow our obedience far outweigh the “comfortable” bondage we didn’t realize we were in.

By the way, He’s provided every need since I said “yes” to Him.

The old man’s father-in-law was right. Without trust, love can be a miserable thing, but where trust has been earned, as God has earned surely earned ours, you have a strong foundation providing hope for the future.

~*~
Author bio:

Natalie Monk writes historical romance full of laughter, love, and redemption. 

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Natalie is represented by the Steve Laube Agency and is currently plotting her third novel. 

She is a home school graduate, gospel singer, portrait photographer, devotional speaker and former post-hole digger. 

She loves sweet tea, book talk, porch swings, and watching musicals and action movies with her family. 

~*~
Connect with Natalie:
Website - http://www.nataliemonk.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/NatalieMonkAuthor
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/NatalieDMonk
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/nataliedmonk

Falling in Love with Jesus: Love Casts Out Fear

Today's Falling in Love with Jesus story is written by Natalie Monk.

She's a multi-talented lady with a heart for Jesus Christ! She expresses her passion for Him in her daily living and His light radiates through her as she interacts with people. I know because I met Natalie in person earlier this year! She's pretty awesome! :)

Enjoy your visit with Natalie now as she shares her story about her first love encounter with Jesus Christ.

~*~

Love Casts Out Fear
A Falling in Love with Jesus story written by Natalie Monk

My first love encounter with Jesus was a little scary.

Not what you expected to hear, right?

Eight years old, leaving a revival meeting service, I’d never had any dealings with the Supernatural, so when I grew overwhelmed with thoughts of God and where I stood with Him, fear swamped me. Nothing major had ever disturbed my “normal.”

My whole life I had heard the message of Christ, how He loved the people of the world so much He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave three days later. But things of God were never personal to me.

Why was I so troubled now?

Something was horribly wrong. With me. With my relationship to God.

I didn’t want to talk about it, but to reassure myself, I tugged on my mom’s sleeve and declared to her that I was “saved.” See, I remembered “asking Jesus to save me” when I was three, because that’s what good boys and girls are supposed to do. I said the words. I did the thing. I was okay, right?

Now I laugh at my desperate grasp at normalcy, suddenly blurting that I was okay. I actually believed myself (or I “would be okay, if everyone would just ignore this weirdness and let things be normal again”), but Momma was smarter than that. I’m sure she noticed my pale lips and fidgety hands. She told me we would talk as soon as she bid the church people goodbye.

My stomach churned while I waited. I’d blabbed, now I’d HAVE to talk.

When we climbed up in my Daddy’s farm truck to head home, I slid onto the front seat and between Momma and Daddy. I was hopeful that once I told them I’d done the “saved” thing when I was three, they’d leave me alone about it and things could go back to normal. Maybe we could get a hamburger or ice cream or something—except if I ate anything right then I’d lose it all over those red cloth seats.

Momma asked me to tell her about when I was “saved.” I didn’t have much to tell except that I’d said the “right” words.

Then Momma had to go and ask the hard questions: Was God working in my heart back then when I was three or did I just say the “saved” words because I thought it was something good to do? Did I realize I was born a sinner and needed a savior (the whole reason Jesus came to earth to save us from eternal death and separation from Him)?

That’s when my façade broke down and tears popped up. I told her I didn’t know those things before, but they sure were true now. I didn’t fully comprehend God working so sweetly in my heart, showing me how much I needed Him and how He loved me and wanted me to know Him. (I understand now this was the conviction of the Holy Spirit.)

Momma, being sensitive to the ways of children and knowing how easy it is to “make a decision” to please others, asked me if I thought I needed to pray right then and give my heart to Jesus or if I could wait.

I told her I could wait. Why, I’m not sure. Maybe I still held out hope that I could ignore all this and feel better soon.

Five minutes later I told her I couldn’t wait anymore. I was so bothered inside at not being right with God. I prayed sincerely and asked God to forgive my sins and come into my heart. I didn’t say perfect words at a fancy church altar. In fact, we’d pulled into a lumber company’s dirt driveway—nothing religious about that.

But God was there. He heard my heart. And the burden He lifted from me was so real, the peace and relief so sweet. He changed me then and has been working in me ever since, drawing, pursuing, and persuading me to be more like Him and love like Him. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m thankful He’ll always be my Loving Guide.

Do you know Him? 

~*~
Author bio:

Natalie Monk writes historical romance stories of laughter, love, and redemption. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Natalie is currently seeking representation and plotting her third novel. 

Natalie is a homeschool graduate, a piano teacher, portrait photographer, devotional speaker and former post-hole digger. 

She loves sweet tea, book talk, porch swings, and watching musicals and action movies with her family. 

Connect with Natalie:

Website: www.nataliemonk.com 

Twitter: @NatalieDMonk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nataliemonkauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nataliedmonk

True Love Stories: My Date with the King

Today, Natalie Monk is sharing her unique take on Valentine’s Day as a single lady: She is celebrating this romantic holiday by going on a Date with the King! No, not the King of Denmark or France—she’s talking about God, the Creator of the Universe and Earth.

Curious to know how that’s possible? Read on to discover the answers to your questions in Natalie’s true love story. 

~*~
My Date with the King
Natalie Monk’s true love story

For singles, Valentine’s Day usually means working late then crashing with PJs, a tub of ice cream, a book, or a sappy movie, a box of tissues, and a large side of self-pity. 

This Valentine’s Day I’m doing something different . . .

I accepted Christ at a young age when I realized He died for my sin because He loved me. We’ve had sweet times of fellowship over the years. But as I grow older and get busier, it doesn’t take much for my devotional and prayer times to be crowded out, for the sparks of my fellowship with God to subdue to glowing embers.

This year, I want to grow closer to Jesus than ever before. I want to seek His face and His heart more than His “hand” or His blessings. I want to respond to Him, serve Him and make time for Him as I would a beau.

With that commitment in mind, I recently made a list of things I want to do to strengthen my fellowship with the Lord.

#1. “Bless the Lord” by giving Him my submission, respect and cheerful affection. From the Bible, I know worship and praise and adoration belong to Him. I know He’s interested in me, knows me better than anyone in the world. He desires for me to want Him to know me and for me to know Him more.

#2. Give Him myself, my thoughts my plans, my dreams, my longings.

#3. Serve Him. To do thoughtful, special things for Him with hidden meanings only the two of us know.

#4. Be proud of and speak highly of Him in the presence of others.

#5. Send Him “love note” prayers like, “I can’t wait to be in Your presence. You make life worth living. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I want to know You more. Tell me how to please you best. I want to carry your love-light in my eyes. I long for you, Beloved.”

#6. Make plans to be alone with God, without distractions or busy worries to take my mind from Him.

#7. Re-read His Love Letter (The Holy Bible) to me.

#8. Write with Him, share creativity together, and be sure He approves of my work.

At the end of this list, I wrote, “If God were my ‘significant other,’ I’d want to spend Valentine’s Day on a date with Him.”

Then it hit me. Aha!

When this Valentine’s Day rolls around, I’m going on a date with the King.

Here’s the plan:

I’ll take my Bible, my journal, Beverly Seward Brandon’s Bible study sheet on the husbandly attributes of God (read the full list of attributes by following this link,

http://sweetsouthblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-valentines-day-date-with-king.html) and a book bag filled with:

· Come Away, My Beloved by Francis J Roberts,

· Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand,

· A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George,

· Lady In Waiting by Jackie Kendall and Debbie Jones

· Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and possibly

· Girl Talk with God by Susie Shellenberger.

I’m going to dress nice and hope the coffee shop will have some type of red velvet hot cocoa or something Valentine-y to go along with the occasion.

I had initially planned to have this date at home. I’ve been known to exhibit inordinate social cowardice on Valentine’s Day—like hiding at home in my PJs browsing Pinterest just so I don’t have to see other couples holding hands and kissing in public.

This time, though, I feel God wants me in public for a testimony that He is enough to satisfy the longings of every soul. Probably no one will ask (usually people keep to themselves in our mid-sized town) but if they do, I’ll tell them about my date and use it as an opportunity to tell them about my Date. Hehe. See what I did there?

This Valentine’s Day, I’m throwing down the gauntlet. I challenge every single person to dump your PJs and Valentine’s Day self-pity. Grab your Bible and favorite devotional and get to know your Creator. Let Him be the Lover of your soul. Who’s with me?

~*~

Author bio: 

A farm girl from the time she could shimmy under a string of barbed wire, Natalie Monk writes award-winning historical romance spiced with southern humor and small-town oddities. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and is currently revising her second manuscript.

Natalie is a homeschool graduate from North Mississippi, a piano teacher, part-time portrait photographer, certified wedding planner, and devotional speaker. She loves sweet tea, reading, girl talk (usually about books), porch swings, and watching old musicals and action movies with her family.

~*~
Connect with Natalie:

Twitter- @NatalieDMonk

Facebook - www.facebook.com/nataliemonkauthor

Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/nataliedmonk

Blog - sweetsouthblog.blogspot.com

Website - defangyoursynopsis.blogspot.com