#professing

My bedroom grew quiet as I settled down to read my new book of poetry.  I sat in my comfy sofa chair reading for a while until I recognized the faint sound of music playing.  Wondering where it was coming from, I slowly got up and looked around the room before I turned my focus in the direction it seemed to be coming from.  I opened the glass door that led to my room’s balcony and looked out into my backyard.  To my shock and surprise, I saw my boyfriend holding a small set of speakers with the biggest smile on his face.  I took a few seconds to name the song and realized Frank Ocean’s voice singing “Pink and White.”  I grinned with realization knowing that it was our song.  “What exactly are you doing?” He laughed before proclaiming, “I’ve come to profess my love to you!”  Burying my face in my hands, I began laughing uncontrollably.  “Shut up you idiot, I’ll be right down.”  

I opened my back door and walked into his wide open arms.  He squeezed me close in a warm and comfortable hug.  “Hey,” I whispered as he pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek.  Pulling away, I asked, “So seriously, why are you out here?”  He looked back at me for a tad longer than expected, almost as if he was in a slight trance.  “I was serious, to profess my love to you.”  He took a deep breath suddenly appearing nervous before he spoke once more.  “Y/N, baby, we’ve been together for a while now and I’ve gotten to experience and learn so much about you. These last four years with you have been nothing but a blessing.  All of my future plans include you and I couldn’t imagine spending any unnecessary time apart.  You’re the love of my life and the girl of my dreams and I just want to continue this adventure with you forever.”  He paused and began kneeling on his knee.  It wasn't until he did this motion that it dawned on me what exactly was happening here.  I covered my mouth in disbelief and tuned in again on the fact that “Pink and White” was still playing nearby.  “Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N, will you marry me and be my wife?”  Warm tears cascaded down my cheeks as I nodded my head.  “Trent, of course I’ll marry you.”  He slipped the gem filled ring on my finger and quickly stood up to envelope me into a hug.   My feet soon left the ground as he hoisted me up in the air and spun us around.  Faint laughter left my mouth before he put me back on the grass and attached his soft lips to mine.  

In that moment, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was.  Trent really was everything I wanted in a man and more.  I was so happy with him and the prospect of me spending the rest of my life with him made my heart swell with joy.  When our lips and tongues finally parted, I uttered, “I love you so much.”  He beamed and replied, “I love you more.”  Our lips collided once more passionately. 

by J.C. Ryle

Do you feel anything of the importance of being forgiven? Then, in the name of God, I call upon you to encourage that feeling more and more. This is the point to which we desire to bring all people’s souls.

We want you to understand that religion does not consist in professing certain opinions, and performing certain outward duties, and going through certain outward forms. It consists in being reconciled to God, and enjoying peace with Him. It consists in having our sins cleansed away, and knowing that they are cleansed. It consists in being brought back into friendship with the King of kings, and living in the sunshine of that friendship.