Swipe Right: The Life And Death Power Of Sex And Romance Sample

Winter Is Coming

On a trip in New York, Jennie and I happened into a jewelry store that sold children’s jewelry. I immediately thought of my daughters, Alivia and Lenya (ages seven and five at the time), and the fact that I had been wanting to give them rings to wear on their ring fingers as a reminder of our ongoing conversation about relationships and romance, strength and honor. We brought the rings home and wrapped them with all the other little gifts we had bought for our four little arrows.

Lenya went home to heaven with the rings still unopened. She left this world with her daddy’s breath in her lungs and her mom’s prayers in her ears. Five days before we planned to give these gifts, she was gone. We brought her ring to the funeral home on the day of her burial. With a peace I wasn’t expecting, we enjoyed tender and special moments with this body we enjoyed seeing her in for five beautiful years. Our Lenya Lion. Jennie handed me the ring, and when it was on the ring finger of her left hand, I stroked her hair and sobbed.

In a larger sense, that ring on her finger drives me as I write this for you. Death might have deprived me of the opportunity to continue the conversation with Lenya, but God will have the last laugh, because that motivates me to have it with you. What the thief has taken must be restored sevenfold. I seek to speak up as a father, for the Father, to any one of his children who will listen.

This is my message in a bottle, containing what I would have told Lenya, opened up for you. And the message I have for you is this: Hold out for honor. You are worth more than you know. You are created in the image of God, and your value exceeds that of rubies or diamonds.

You are loved, and you are lovely. You are appointed and anointed to rule and reign with God as royalty. You are the head and not the tail; you are from above and not beneath. You are a leader, not a follower. Don’t rush, don’t hurry, and don’t settle! Let God prepare you, and believe that he is also preparing someone for you.

No matter what is behind you, from this day forward, embrace God’s plans for you.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Did you grow up with your value being spoken over you, or is this difficult for you to understand? Take time to remember what God has said about you. He calls you beloved. You are chosen, loved, called, and equipped. He has a plan for you.
• Who in your life needs to hear the truths you’ve learned through this reading plan? Commit to praying for them and share what you’ve learned with them. Encourage them to read through the plan with you, praying God will use it in their life and yours.

Remember: Live below with your heart set on his kingdom above.