immeasurably more

When I was young (because I am so old now), I created a list. I like lists - I tend not to follow them a whole lot, but I do like lists. I like to write out to do lists and shopping lists, and thinking lists, and learning lists - I don't often refer to the lists, ie I tend to shop without the list. For me the very writing of the list is all I need to remember and get from A to B, or from Crisps to Salad!! However there is one particular list that has been constant for some time now, the one that I made when I was young!!!

"All" the girls were making one. It seemed the appropriate thing to do, nevermind the fact that I was never going to "need" to activiate the list, because I was never going to date, because I could date and then tomorrow be married, and at that point (let's remember high school here) I did not want to get married.

My list - which included the traits which I desired/imagined for in a man for my life - are as follows:

• Someone who loves God and follows Christ with passion
• A servant leader
• Someone with a sense of humor
• Strong - physically
• Someone who could cook and actually enjoyed the process
• Someone who got along with my family
• And the piece de resistance: not an American!
  

Yes, I didn't want to marry an American, so I sure didn't want to date an American. Slightly difficult considering the fact that I did live in ... wait for it... America!!!

It is such a sweet thing to see how God has blessed me recently with a gift that is far more than I could measurably ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 speaks of how God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.

People often scoff at the idea of creating a list and thinking that it might be what comes into your life, and while I wouldn't necessarily say that I sought out the qualities on the list - like I do with my other every day lists I didn't carry around my "wish list." I knew my list, I knew what I wanted, what I desired and see the thing is God did too - he not only knew what I desired, but he knew what I needed, and he has given me so much more than I could ever ask or imagine - including the fact that I am not dating an American. You know the chances are relatively slim at not dating an American, living here in America and all, and well God brought into my life this amazing man, who is French - which just makes this current journey that much more exciting!!!

Seriously though when I look back over my life, in all areas - from my family, to my job, to my boyfriend, to my friends - I see that God has lavished on me gifts far beyond what I could have ever imagined or asked for.