SeaSon Of LoVe

I brought this religion book for my friend is called Celebrating The Tender Moments of Life - Season Of Love.
In this book....is have brought both joy and encourgement to my life, and is covers the many complexions of love with grace,insight and tenderness, with issues such as rekindling romance in marriage, forgiving someone who has hurt you, finding and being a true friend, extending God's life- changing love to someone who seems unloveable and loving yourself.

All these inspiring stories of devotion and faith will inspire you-to better recognize, accept and cherish the season of love in which ou find yourself today.

Most of all, it will help you to experience, in a new way the strength and joy of knowing just how much god truly loves you.

I have a story that i like to share with all of you and is taken from this book is called The Richest Man In The World. Is a true love story...romantic love story...hehehe!!!!

The man who finds a wife finds a good things.she is a blessing to him form the Lord. Proverbs 18.22 TLB

“Hey, Teresa! When are we going out?” the athletic senior quipped, as he passed the pretty blond student in the school office.
The question was not an actual request, nor did John expect a response. Yet somehow it had become a game,a challenge. It first started in a conversation with the guys.
“Teresa and I had only talked a couple of times at school, but she had always been kind toward me,”John recalls. “So when I heard some of my buddies referring to her in the form of a conquest, I felt compelled to defend her.”
“Ain’t nobody getting’ no action with her,”one stated.
I really hated that kind of talk, especially since Teresa was a Christian. I wanted to change the subject. “Obviously none of you hound dogs is the right person,” I replied.
“So, you think you culd get her to kiss you on the first date?” they challenged.
Something about the conversation lodged in John’s mind, creating an unconscious shift in his previously casual relationship with Teresa.
As a senior in high school, John had already excelled in many areas. He was president of the French club, the history club, and the honor society. He also excelled with girls and had developed a reputation as a ladies’ man, but in reality he felt very alone.
“My home life was less than perfect.”John recalls. “I had seven brothers and sisters as my family became mixed in Brady Bunch fashion. Only ours was not always a happy family.”
What John longed for was a stable, loving relationship.
Prior to that conversation with the guys, John had never seriously considered dating Teresa. She was one of the “good” girls: and well, that just wasn’t hiiis type. Still, he jokingly commented about a date each time he saw her.
His position as president of the honor society required frequent interaction with the school counselor. As a senior, Teresa sometimes worked in the office, so their paths crossed frequently.
Entering the counselor’s office one afternoon in a thinly veiled guise to skip English class, John passed Teresa. As if on cue, he rattled off the now familiar line, “Hey, when are we going out?” Smiling to himself, he walked in to see the counselor.
A couple of minutes later, as Teresa walked past the office, she slowly retraced her steps. Popping her head in, she actually responded to John’s question for the first time.
“Well, whenever you ask,” she smiled before walking on again.
“I was dumbfounded, ”John said. “The situation had turned serious in an instant. What had been my ongoing joke had suddenly turned into a joke on me. And while I had not always done the right things in my relationships with girls, I had a sense of honor when it came to Teresa and wanted to treat her right.”
Excusing himself from the counselor, John walked out to find Teresa, fully intending to set the record straight and apologize. The next thing he heard coming out of his mouth shocked Teresa as well as him. “Hey, Teresa. I’m asking,” he stated.
There was a long pause, but as John’s mind raced with the thought of what he had just said, he realized he didn’t want to take the words back. Two weeks later, they had their first official date.
“Although I wasn’t of legal age, I ordered a drink, hoping to impress her: but the things that impressed other girls didn’t impress Teresa, “John shares about that evening.
“I would prefer that you not drink,” she commented calmly after we left the restaurant. There was something so compelling about the way she had made her feelings known, that I never took another drink again, “John confides.
“Much to my surprise, I did get a kiss on our first date. My mind immediately recalled the conversation with the guys, “You think you’re the right guy?” That kiss hooked me into staying with the relationship as I contemplated for the first time the possibility that this girl just might be the one for me. The more I considered the relationship, I was finally able to admit to myself that I was slowly falling in love with her.”
Although John’s heart toward Teresa was changing, his attitude toward God was not, even though their dates typically centered around prayer meetings and revival services. John went with Teresa only because he wanted to be with her. She continued dating him only because she felt he would change. But there was no indication that the services they attended were having any impact whatsoever on his life.
“At one such service, I remembered very little except to admire the gift of delivery from the fiery evangelist. Afterwards as we made our way out of the church, I shook his hand and expressed my appreciation for his oratory skill, even though I hadn’t understood his message. ‘That was a great speech, ’I complimented.
“The preacher pulled back his hand as if I had slapped his face, “John laughs in remembrance. “Sir, you need to pray for yourself, ‘he directed.”
Still in spiritual darkness, John couldn’t understand what had offended the evangelist. But although it couldn’t be seen on the surface, Teresa’s prayers and the words of the preachers were having an effect on him.
From that time on, the services John and Teresa attended became increasingly uncomfortable for John. No longer could he sit complacently in the back. Now each time he entered a church, the words of the evangelist came flooding back into his mind, Sir, you need to pray for yourself.
“I realized I didn’t even know how to pray for myself and whispered aloud, “God, if You’re real, show me.”
And He did.
John found over the next few weeks that his prayer in those services had changed. It was no longer, “God, if You’re real, show me,” but now became, “God, I know You’re real. What do I need to do?”
Finally, at the close of yet another services, John listened as the workship leader kept singing the old song, “Just as I Am.” About the eighth time of singing the chorus, he finally slammed the hymnal shut in surrender, “Lord, save me, “he whispered.
“I knew even before I left my seat to walk forward that I had been changed. I was different…. And I knew I was called to preach. And about three weeks later, I knew I was to marry Teresa. But I didn’t dare tell her that- not yet.”
At the end of the summer, Teresa left for college in another state, while John remained in North Carolina to attend the community college. They knew the period of separation would be difficult, but it became increasingly challenging when Teresa met a young man on her school campus. Although unwilling to admit it, Teresa was strongly attracted to her classmate’s spiritual depth, something John didn’t yet possess. Over the next several weeks, it became increasingly clear to John via their letters and phone conversations that the girl he loved was slipping away.
But what Teresa couldn’t see was the John was maturing fast.
“In just the few weeks I had been a believer, I had already read a considerable portion of the Old and New Testaments. And although new in my commitment to Christ, I was already teaching a Sunday school class, testifying and giving mini-sermons, and became involved with the choir. I was so hungry for God that my faith and knowledge of Him were growing by leaps and bounds, “John states.
As the school year progressed, Teresa became increasingly more confused about the two men in her life. As the emotional turmoil intensified, she made the decision to leave school for a week to return home ostensibly to be with her family. In reality, she had gone home to make up her mind. Unfortunately, it seemed from the beginning for her visit that her decision had already been made.
“After her arrival, we arranged to meet at the Wednesday night church service. Her change in attitude toward me was immediately apparent as she greeted me briefly only to walk away to sit with her parents for the services, “John shares. “My heart felt constricted as I debated whether or not to walk out and away from the painful distance that separated us. But I couldn’t. I loved Teresa. I made the decision to stay, no matter the outcome.
“After the service Teresa almost reluctantly agreed to stay behind and talk. As the church emptied, we eventually decided to take a drive to continue our conversation. Although alone, there was no physical contact between us. We were just two friends getting reacquainted. I could only hope that Teresa could see the growth that had taken place in my life since she left.
“Finally, that weekend over dinner, I pressed Teresa for a decision. “Teresa, I need to know if I am just a friend or if there is something more between us.”
“Over the previous several days, Teresa was able to see for herself the metamorphosis that had taken place in my life. She didn’t hesitate in giving her answer – the one I had hoped for.”
John and Teresa became engaged later that year, setting a wedding date for the summer before their senior year of college, two years away. The next year John transferred schools to join Teresa, and their relationship continued to deepen.
“Those were the happiest times I had ever had. I loved her more that anyone I had ever loved in my life. She seemed to be everything I needed- loving, caring, compassionate, and most of all, forgiving of my past, “John continues his story.
After completing their junior year, Teresa returned home immediately to finalize plans for their July wedding. John stayed behind to continue working and, in his spare time, he kept studying the Bible. Everything seemed to be going perfectly.
After returning to North Carolina, Teresa got a job interning as a social worker- her major. The work was not strenuous, but Teresa seemed to have difficulty keeping up with the physical demands of the position. Her energy level decreased to the point that she finally went to the doctor. While the doctor confirmed that low energy lever, he had no explanation for the cause and ordered an array of tests.
Two weeks late, John got a call from Teresa’s mother. Emotion choked her voice as she finally communicated the message, “John, the doctor’s report came back to Teresa. She had just two years to live.”
Teresa had been diagnosed with cardio pulmonary hypertension, a disease that creates a higher that normal pressure in the lungs, ultimately causing the heart to enlarge on one side and become deformed. Teresa was growing weaker and weaker.
“The pain from her mother’ words pierced me like a sword. In my mind, Teresa was irreplaceable. She was the missing puzzle piece in my life, and for the first time I felt whole and valuable. I couldn’t believe the diagnosis, “John explains.
“Later, Teresa’s mom told me that she and her husband had met with my parents and that they all felt that it would be the right thing to call off the wedding. Logically I could see their point, “John admits. “But this wasn’t about logic. It was a matter of the heart. I told her that I wanted to talk to Teresa about it, that it needed to be her decision.
“Once Teresa come to the phone, I told her, “Your parents think we shouldn’t get married. I’m willing to call it off, if it is what you want. “Then, after a short pause, I asked, “What do you think?”
“I prayed silently as Teresa pondered the question.
“It would break my heart, “she said quietly.
“It would have broken mine too, “John confesses.
John and Teresa married in a simple ceremony two weeks later. By the time, Teresa had grown so weak physically that John had to help her stand as they exchanged their vows, but what she lacked in energy she made up for with the joy in their marriage.
Within days of their return to Tulsa, in preparation for their final year at the university, John realized that Teresa would be unable to continue. Her condition had deteriorated so rapidly that he couldn’t take care of her by himself, so he made plans to return to their family and friends back home.
In preparation for the trip, John checked Teresa into the hospital. She had been unable to eat and needed nutrients through IVs to strengthen her frail body. But Teresa never left the hospital. They had been married only fifty days.
“Even in the pain of Teresa’s death, my parents and I experienced new life. “John explains. “Little did I know, my parents had been watching me during the trying days immediately after Teresa’s death. The witness of the strength that was not my own, that carried me through the grief of my loss, conveyed more that words ever could have. They gave their lives to Christ within a week of each other.
Not long after, at only twenty-one years of age, John returned to Oklahoma to restart a life that had no one in it anymore. Months passed before he could even contemplate the mere thought of ever allowing another woman into his life. But as his heart began to heal, God began to prepare him for a new season.
Around this time, John and his roommate went out for dinner one night. Their waitress was a pretty blonde Bible- school student with a bubbly personality. Something about this stranger sparked John’s interest. As they prepared to depart, he left her a note on the table, “It’s nice to meet you. I’d like to get to know you better.”
Two weeks later, he returned to the restaurant and asked her out. Although they dated for a the next couple of months, by then it seemed obvious, at least to John, that their lives were heading in different directions. Lori was just eighteen at the time and after the road John had walked, she seemed incredibly young to him. He knew it was time to go their separate ways before it became too painful.
“In all honesty, Lori faced an insurmountable barrier with the memory of my former wife, whom I had elevated to the level of sainthood, “John admits. “No one would have been able to live up to the standard I had unconsciously set.”
The bottom line was, John wasn’t ready for a new relationship yet. God still had some work to do in him before he could really let go of his past. And without letting go to the past, he couldn’t fully embrace the future God had for him.
After their breakup, Lori returned to her family in Arizona, and John resumed the task of rebuilding his life- comfortable, he thought, with his decision. That is until he ran into her later that summer at a swimming pool. The moment he saw her, he realized how much he had missed her. Although Lori had returned to Tulsa for only a brief visit, they began dating again. It wasn’t long before John recognized the awakening of deeper feelings.
Never one to waste time on futile efforts, John suddenly needed to know if God’s plan was for him to marry again. Although his mind was having to catch up to his spirit, deep inside, he knew marriage was His will.
Now John just needed to know if Lori was the woman God had chosen for him. “On a whim I invited Lori to go with me to Dallas where my parents had moved. Although I was fairly certain that she was the one for me, I needed to know for sure. The entire trip, I listened intently for God’s voice and scrutinized Lori’s actions as well as my feelings. In a way this was unfair to Lori, but I knew the stakes were too high for either of us to make a mistake. Unless this was God’s will, the relationship would be doomed to failure.”
As the day wore on, John began to waver in his thinking as various emotions washed over him. Later that night after Lori had gone to bed in the guest room, he sat in the kitchen with his mom.
“She’s not Teresa, “ he began.
John’s mother provided a listening ear as John talked through the turmoil in his heart. Finally, he headed to bed, having convinced himself that there was no future in the relationship.
But during the night John had three separate dreams that were interrelated. At the beginning, a single apple tree grew in the middle of a luscious green field. It was a mature tree, full of beautiful white blossoms that swayed in the gentle breeze. A warm feeling came over him as he stared at the tree.
In the second dream, the tree was budding with small green fruit all over its branches. Finally, close to morning time, he had a third dream, only this time the tree was covered with fruit that was mature and ripe. The branches were so heavy laden that they almost touched the ground.
“After each dream I heard the words. Would you chop down this tree?
“Never, Lord,” I replied with conviction. “Your Word says that every tree is known by its fruit. This tree has good fruit.”
Instantly John awoke with the understanding that the “tree” represented Lori.
“God knew that I had begun to waver from the peach He had put in my heart. He knew I had been on the verge of making the biggest mistake of my life, and in His mercy, He intervened in a profound way. I got up immediately and knocked on the door to Lori’s room, now certain of the next step in God’s plan for my life.
“Will you marry me?” I asked.
“Thankfully, she accepted, and I’ve never looked back.”
Today a wooden apple sits on John’s dresser as a reminder of that prophetic dream that altered the course myof their lives. Lori and John have been married twenty-three years now, they have eight children and work together full time in children’s ministry.
“Lori makes me better that I could have even been by myself,” says John. “People that observe us say that we are like two halves of a circle, each completing the other.
“Yes, Teresa was, at the time, a love greater that anything I had ever experienced, and I will forever honor her memory. But as is always the case with God, he took a tragedy and turned it into the biggest miracle of my life when He gave Lori too me. She is exactly what I need, handpicked by God; and the love we share is deeper that I even knew was possible. Because of her and our precious children, I am the richest man in the world.”

Heavenly Father, just as only You can make a flower grow in the middle of the desert, only without hope. There are always brighter day ahead in You. Amen.