Lynn Beard

“Whenever I speak to a group, I always ask, “God, what is it You want me to say?” 
 
Over and over, and as if for the first time, He says, “Make sure . . .” 
 
I lean in, curious, totally forgetting the last twenty times. “Make sure of what?” 
 
“Make sure you tell them,” He pauses for effect, “that I love them.” ”
― Elizabeth Bristol, Mary Me: One Woman’s Incredible Adventure with God

“It turns out happiness does come in relationship with the right guy. 
 
I found my Prince Charming in Jesus, my very own freedom fighter, supernatural life coach, and Prince of Peace. He comes through every time, saves me because He can’t not. That’s His nature. And I’ve peeked ahead to the end of the story. The Bible says He’s coming back to get us, riding on a white horse; no wonder that makes my heart skip a beat. ”
― Elizabeth Bristol, Mary Me: One Woman’s Incredible Adventure with God

“ . . . since God’s God, I assumed He could hear me, so I’d ask Him what He thought. And here’s the weird part, I’d pick up a book, a box of cereal, or catch a random conversation at the gym and hear what felt like His next line in our conversation! It was wild. ”
― Elizabeth Bristol, Mary Me: One Woman’s Incredible Adventure with God

“You’ve been here the whole time!” I could see it clearly. 
 
The calm, glowing One smiled, and all of a sudden, I knew. It hadn’t been fear telling me not to get on the boat, scaring me away from the fun. It was Jesus trying to spare me the agony of this trip because . . . because He loves me? Yes, He loves me! 
 
And there I’d stood, as if I’d had my hand on His chest, pushing Him away. What was I doing? Seeing Him now, I realized we’d been stuck in this pose a long time. I hadn’t wanted Him to go in case I needed Him, but I hadn’t wanted Him to come inside and control me. 
 
Ever so patiently—suspended in time, but oh-so-very present—Jesus held out His hand and invited me to dance. 
 
“Yes,” I yielded, and something so much more peaceful than peace settled inside even though the storm still raged, and the circumstances hadn’t budged. “Let’s dance.” 
 
Embraced in His arms, I fell asleep—even in the midst of those crazy waves. ”
― Elizabeth Bristol, Mary Me: One Woman’s Incredible Adventure with God