Seven

Seven years ago today, Lucas asked me to be his wife. Little did I know then just what kind of a ride the Lord would be taking us on.

I am so glad that we are in this ride together. There is no one I would rather be with than with you.

Saying yes to you was one of the best decisions of my life. Happy 7th engagement anniversary. Te amo muito meu Brasileiro! 

Better When We're Together

Yesterday Lucas and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary.  I happily sang the lyrics to Jack Johnson's song with a smile on my face, "It's always better when we're together."  It really is better when we're together.  I couldn't imagine being on this adventure with anyone else.  Te amo tanto, tanto, tanto meu Brasileiro.

  

Happy IRON anniversary handsome!  

A Happy Heart

On this day, six years ago, the day I dreamed about since I was a little girl would finally play itself out before my very eyes when my then boyfriend, Lucas, asked me to his wife.  I never imagined marriage would be so abundant but God never ceases to remind me of His faithfulness through His word, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than ALL we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."  Ephesians 3:20

 Photo Credit:  UDS  

Happy 6th 'Engagement' Anniversary meu brasileiro.  Those Portuguese speaking energy balls are not here yet but life couldn't be more complete than it is by your side.  Whether I am shopping at Nordstrom's Rack or at the local consignment store, I have realized that I need very little in life to be content.  With you and God by my side, I have all I need and want.


Te amo tanto, tanto, tanto y te amo para siempre.

Happy birthday Lucas!

Twenty nine years ago today God blessed a family in Brazil with a precious baby boy. Today I celebrate this man's life. I celebrate the life of my husband and best friend, the man who has taught me what it means to live a life spent serving the one who humbly came to serve us.

Happy birthday Lucas Moura de Almeida. I truly and wholeheartedly believe that when God created you, He must've been thinking of me. ;) My prayer today is that the Lord would continue to use you to share His love with others and that He would continue equipping you to lead others into a genuine relationship with Him. As your wife, I pray that through His strength, I would enable you to continue pursuing your first love, Jesus Christ, all the days of your life. I love you.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

-James 1:17

Marriage: Dive In

Just recently, a group of seven ladies got through talking about everything from marriage to parenting. The thing that most struck a chord with me was when we were making some observations about our husbands and one of the ladies very wisely pointed out that although they have their flaws what matters most is that they are strong where we are weak. In essence, they complement us.

The truth is that marriage is hard work. Day in and day out it requires commitment, unyielding determination and selfless love in order for the relationship to thrive. It begs that you overlook offenses, give incessantly and heeds you not to place all of your expectations on one person.

As goofy and silly (please see picture above) as my hubby may be at times, I couldn't agree more with my friend's statement. My husband is my absolute perfect complement. He brings out the best in this Type-A, perfectionist, planned and obsessively organized woman. He is care-free, easy going, friendly, optimistic, spontaneous and tons of fun to be around. He is strong where I am weak. He is the man that God has chosen to teach me what life is really all about, someone who would love me in the good, the bad and the ugly.

I don't know where you stand in your marriage at this point but I would like to encourage you to remember that in marriage, like in surfing, there will be high and low tides. Decide today to ride the waves whether they are flat and comfortable or choppy and messy. Remember that the flat waves allow the surfer to rest and prepare for the big waves. However, the real fun starts when the winds at sea are strong and the waves are at their highest. Right before a hurricane, you may find real surfers out on the beach. They are risking it all to get a good surf because they know the waves will be the most fun to ride then. Likewise, in marriage, learn to use the wind (trials, adversities, difficulties) to your advantage and dive in.

Free to Love

If you've spent a little bit of time with me, then you will probably know that one of my favorite past times in the world is hanging out with my girl friends at a local Starbucks. I don't know exactly what it is about sitting with a cup of overpriced Joe while trying to catch up with a dear friend that makes the experience what it is and that is nothing less than remarkable. However, I'm willing to bet that no matter how good that Caramel Frapuccino is it's about the time spent with the person at the other end of the coffee table.

Yet I realize that one doesn't have to go to Starbucks to be involved in a meaningful conversation and nurture a relationship, be it with a spouse or good friend. What one actually needs is to invest time and be intentional about caring. In Philippians 2:3-4 the bible would put it this way, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others about yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

It seems pretty obvious, doesn't it? Yet how many times can we say that the things we do haven't been driven by our own selfish desires? How many times have we sacrificed of our precious time to sit there with a friend going through a crisis or simply needing someone to listen? How many times have we really practiced what we preach?

I don't know about you but for me I realize that in my own relationship with my husband my love for him can be conditional. If you make me feel good, then I will love you. Naturally it's hard for me to put my own desires second to his. Yet I realize that when I do, it is then and only then, that my real needs are met. I have freed him from meeting my expectations and have given him room to love me the way he knows how to love me. More importantly though, I have decided to love him, serve him, place him above my own needs and by doing so have resembled Christ who being God didn't come to this world to be served but to serve (See Matthew 20:26-28).

A Valentine's Day Challenge: Loving the Unloveable

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays probably because I'm a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic. However I know for others this is one of the worst days ever which just magnifies the inescapable loneliness they may be facing. Regardless of your situation, I would like to ask that you read this with open eyes, ears and a willing heart to understand what a true definition of love in today's world looks like.

Yesterday my husband preached an uncommon message about Valentine's Day. In it, he reminded us how easy it truly is to love those people that we like. I barely have to make an effort to love my husband or my family. However, the true measure of a believer lies in their ability to love the unloveable. I had one such encounter last Friday with the manager of our building. I gently approached her about an incident that was repeatedly occurring which I felt was unfair. Basically there is someone who parks right in front of our door step every day between 7:30 - 7:45 am to drop off her daughter. The problem with this lies in the fact that she is extremely boisterous in the morning and I can hear everything from my apartment. When I am not home and am on my way back from an early morning WOD at CrossFit she makes it impossible for me to get into my parking space because she is literally blocking me in. Needless to say it is not only uncomfortable but oftentimes very annoying to have to put up with it.

In any case, the manager apparently sees no problem with it or has no desire to reach a resolution. She has single-handedly decided to completely disregard my request to find another spot to park/stop her car. Although there is a large sign that reads "No Parking" she has rationalized her way out of following her own rule by saying, "It doesn't say no stopping; you can stop for five minutes."

There are few things in life that bother me more than inconsistency and injustice so this ranks pretty high on my list of pet peeves. Yet the fact remains that there is nothing I can do about it besides maybe call "Help Me Howard" (Oh, and I have contemplated it) and surrender this to God in prayer. My inclination is to hold a grudge against, not only the manager, but the lady that carelessly and inconsiderately parks her car illegally every day to drop off her daughter at the expense of my peace. Yet, I was reminded this weekend by my husband's message that God has called me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me.

So on this Valentine's Day I have chosen out of obedience to God to forgive her. Like Jesus exclaimed on that cross when bearing my sins, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." I ask that you would intervene divinely in this woman's heart, Father God, and drive her to a genuine encounter with you. That she would like Paul, be blinded by the light of your presence and fall on her face and hear you calling her (Acts 9:2-6).

And of course no Valentine's Day would be complete without this:

Lucas,

There are so many things that I love about you. I love your smile and way you make me feel when I am around you. I love your "Hakuna Matata" philosophy of life yet how seriously you have always taken your responsibilities at church. I love how you have never liked to read until you started seminary and now no one can stop you from devouring your commentaries. I love how you can pick up your guitar and transport yourself into another world where nothing in life matters. I love how unshakeable your confidence is and how you could care less to match but like to look good because you know how much it means to me. I love how much you know about everything and how you can engage anyone in a conversation. I love how you make a big deal of the things that matter to me. I love how nothing is ever more important than listening to me when I just need you to listen to me. I love the way you love me. I hope you know that I love you more than I ever thought possible. Thank you for picking me as your wife. I am eternally indebted to God for the husband He has blessed me with. Eu te amo cada dia mais.

Your linda,

Indi

This is the video my hubby used to introduce his sermon on Sunday. Enjoy it!

Second Best Gift

"Five years ago today, the man of my dreams asked me to be his wife. 'Til this day, saying yes to him remains the second best decision of my life, second only to saying yes to Christ. I love you Lucas Almeida." This is what my Facebook status reads today. I feel so incredibly blessed to be standing beside such an amazing and godly man who has challenged me to grow in my pursuit of God. I prayed for so long that God would give me a godly man, a man that loved God more than he loved me. And of course, God not only answered my prayer but he went above and beyond when he gave me my husband.

Our relationship is by no means perfect but it is certainly great. There is no doubt in my mind that it is because at the center of our relationship, Christ can be found. I don't know what would be of my life if I had said yes to the wrong person. I am convinced that the man God has placed by my side has helped me become the woman I am today. I am eternally grateful for his life and will never stop praising God for blessing me when he gave me my husband.

Happy "engagement" anniversary handsome. The Portuguese speaking energy balls are not here yet but I trust that God's plans are perfect and in His timing, he will answer our prayers.

I love you today more than I did when I said I do and I can't imagine my love for your growing but without a shadow of a doubt, I know it is inevitable as we continue to grow in our walk with Christ. I continue to pray that our marriage would emulate the love that Christ had for us and that we would be able to lead many to His feet. Eu te amo!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..."
-James 1:13a

Looking forward to a lifetime walking by his side.

Happy Birthday Debs!

Today is a very important day for me as it is this very day 28 years ago that the Lord decided to bless me with a little sister. She is an incredibly gifted, wise, intelligent, gorgeous and God fearing women that I am proud to call my sister. One funny thing about our relationship though is that even though Deby is 2 years and a half younger than I am, she has in a way been like a big sister to me. She has been the one I have been able to count on her for advice, to lift me up when I am down and call for fashion tips. One of the things I most admire about my sister is that she has always been a leader and has never been afraid what people think of her. I also know for a fact that my sister is a woman on a mission from the Lord. Currently she is pursuing her Masters in Accounting while holding down a full-time job and being a wife (not an easy feat by any measure) but one I know she will gracefully accomplish.

Deby, I think you already know but just in case I don't say it enough, I am blessed to be able to call you my sister. You have always been an incredible support for me, the strong shoulders that I cried on (literally) and one of the first I always turn to. Today I give God all the praise for molding your character into that of a loving wife, sister, daughter and friend. You are truly a model worthy of imitating. I pray that the Lord would continue to guide you and burden your heart with the ministry that He has specifically called and equipped you to do. I pray for your marriage and I am grateful for the man that God has blessed you with. He is the big brother I never had; a man which we love and admire greatly. I also ask the Lord to show you just how much you have enriched our family's life and those that have had the privilege of meeting you. I love you with all my heart, Debs. Happy Birthday little "big" sis!

Deby is in the red dress next to our mom and her husband, Mike. Isn't she stunning?

The Debut: 28 Years Ago

On July 1^st, 1982, Lucas Moura de Almeida made his debut into the world. The following day Brazil defeated Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals 3 to 1. Quite an entrance for a Brazilian, if you ask me. Really it was the only way he’d have it. ;)

Lucas,

I never thought it was possible to love someone as much as I love you today. Yet I realize that my love for you is not something that will ever cease to grow. You make it so easy to love you. Whether it is your ability to make me smile and find the bright side of things, the confidence you instill in me or your selfless nature that models Christ's love for me. One thing is certain. You have forever changed my life.

Thank you so much for loving me, for taking the good with the bad, and for never trying to change who I am. I don’t know where I’d be without you but I know that I wouldn’t change where I am today with you for anything in this world.

Te amo muito meu Brasileiro. Feliz Aniversario! Happy Birthday!

The Birthday boy with his custom made cupcake. Thank you Danielle!

Happy Birthday, Meli!

Today, May 20th, one of my best friends in the whole wide world is celebrating her birthday. Her name is Melissa Dorceant and she is a wife, daughter, sister, friend, teacher, follower of Christ and soon-to-be mother. Melissa is a woman who loves the Lord deeply and whom I have had the privilege of seeing grow into the God fearing woman she is today. I am so proud of her for choosing to follow the Lord with her whole heart, soul, and mind and am incredibly grateful that the Lord has chosen to bless her with a wonderful husband.

Our friendship is one that almost expands two decades and one I know will stand the test of time. On her special day, there is nothing else I can do but praise the Lord for what He has done.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for the life of my friend, Meli. I thank you for the beautiful, strong woman you have created her to be. I thank you for what you alone have been able to do in her life, the life of a woman completely surrendered to you. I pray that you would continue to bless her life, marriage and the baby in her womb. May you use her to bring countless lives to their knees in adoration of you.

In Jesus Name,

AMEN

A special note for my friend:

Meli, distance, time and responsibilities separate us physically but I want you to know that you will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am filled with awe, wonder and an immense amount of gratitude towards our heavenly Father when I see how He alone has worked wonders in your life. I am reminded of a particular verse found in Proverbs 16:3 that says, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." You are a living testament that God's promises are true and real and He is a faithful God. I am humbled to have such an amazing woman for a friend. I love you!

Happy 29th Birthday!

Enjoy your first with your husband. I know next year a very special baby girl will be joining in your celebration.

The day of Meli's baptism.

Meli and I (My 28th Birthday)

Meli and I on the happiest day of her life.

This picture speaks more than words.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

-2 Corinthians 5:17

Speaking the Truth with Love

Isn't it funny that when we put on perfume those around us can smell it better than we can? Long after we forget the name of the fragrance we are wearing, others are still attracted to the scent. Oddly enough, sin can be like perfume. Others can smell the "scent" better than we can. In other words, many times we can may be committing a sin and be completely oblivious to it yet others will pick up on it immediately.

Yesterday someone who cares about me reminded me of something I had done incorrectly. Basically, I responded to someone using a very demanding tone. Unbeknownst to me, this person had taken offense to my attitude. Consequently, I hurt her feelings and even her perception of who I really am. My dear friend who confronted me, didn't keep silent though. She approached me in private and gave me sound advice at the most opportune time. I was so grateful because she approached in love. She was living out Galatians 6:1 which says, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. "

I appreciate the way she spoke to me. It would have been easier for her to completely disregard the entire scenario. However she chose to do what was best for me. She edified me with her words and gave me the opportunity to learn and grow from my mistake. In turn, my respect and admiration for her grew almost instantaneously because of her response to the situation. I was also able to make the decision to be intentional in working hard to change this flaw with God's help. It is truly my desire to live out the Golden Rule and treat others the way I want to be treated.

My relationship with the person who was offended has been restored. Even though she was initially hurt by my action, she was able to see past that offense and give me a second chance. Thank God for second chances!

Lord,

Forgive me for the many times I seek my own good at the expense of others. Show me how to truly live out the Golden Rule and treat others as I want to be treated. Help me take time out from my busyness to invest in the lives of others. Help align my priorities to yours. Thank you for my friend who was able to love me in deed and action. And thank you that although we may mess up, you have a way of working things out for us.

In Jesus' name,
AMEN

If you would like to learn a little more about confronting others with love, I encourage you to visit my new blog friend, Jana's blog here. She has posted some handy tips to use when we need to confront someone and how to respond when we are on the receiving end. Go ahead and CLAP (Gotta check out her blog to know what I'm talking about).

A "Wicked" Thank You

My family is the epitome of selfless giving. Last night my sister, Deby, prepared a special girls only night. We went out for dinner at Fleming's Prime Steak House and Wine Bar to catch the 5 for 6 'til 7 special (What an unbelievably delicious steal!) and then made our way down to the Adrienne Arsht Center to see "Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz." It was her birthday gift to our little sister, Danielle, and what a thougthful gift it was.

Lucas and I don't make an abundance of money and lead a very simple life. Although all of our needs are met many times we have desires (I much more so than Lucas) to be able to do things which we simply cannot afford on a teacher and pastor's salary (i.e. going to a musical). Those are the times in which my family comes in; always looking for ways in which they can serve us. They invite us to "fancy schmanzy" dinners and pick up the tab, pay for the rentals on vacations and much more. The Lunns give from their hearts without measuring the cost.

I know I am really blessed and I thank God for the way he uses my family to show me how much he loves us. And although many times I feel embarrassed to accept it, I know I need to humbly accept, enjoy the treat and thank God for using them to bless us.

I don't think we will ever be able to repay them for all that they have given us but I know our God will.

Mike and Deby,

Thank you once again for giving selflessly. I know you work hard for everything you have. You are disciplined in your saving and the way you spend what the Lord has blessed you with. Thank you for choosing to invest in your family and giving us what otherwise many times we could not do on our own. Thank you for constantly looking for opportunities in which to share with us and bless us. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you and are truly privileged to be a part of a family that loves us not only in word, but in action.

We love you!

"May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
Ruth 2:12

Sweet Sixteens

Sixteen years ago today, God appointed February 26th as the day in which he would bless us with the life of Danielle Moriah, my sister. And what a precious gift she has been for our family and to all those who know and love her.

Lord, I thank you for the life of my precious sister. As much as my heart cherishes her, I know it is not even a tenth of how much you love her. I pray that as she celebrates her 16th birthday that you would show her what you alone have destined for her. And like Queen Esther, may you use Danielle with power for your divine purposes.

Princess, my words fail me when I try to describe just how much you mean to me and what a privilege it is to be your sister. I want you to know that I count you as one of the greatest blessings in my life. I love you sooooo much princess.

Happy 16th Birthday, Tati!!!

Photographs courtesy of the super talented Jess from Be You Images

Our 4th Wedding Anniversary

Our Wedding Day

On December 17, 2005, I made the second best decision of my life. I say it is the second best decision because the first best decision I ever made was to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It was on this day four years ago that I said "I do" to an amazing man that God prepared just for me.

For my handsome,

You have no idea how blessed I am to be your wife. I have admired you ever since I met you and today I can say that my admiration for you has grown by like a gazillion times. You complement me in every way possible. You are amazing and although you don't believe in soulmates =P I am convinced that God made you just for me.

Te amo tanto, tanto, tanto. Here is to another 70+ years.

Your linda,
Indi

How He Popped the Question

On this very day, four years ago, my then boyfriend, Lucas popped the question. He took me to have dinner at the restaurant of my choice. I chose Porcao (A Braziilan steakhouse in Brickell). After dinner, Lucas took me to our church (where we met almost 4 years prior to the proposal) and at midnight he led me through a series of clues to the ring.

The first clue read, "Go to the place where we first met." When I got there I found the next clue with a trail of Ferrero Rocher chocolates and some flowers. The final destination would be at the church piano where he played and sang a song he had written for me for my birthday. Afterwards, he pulled the ring out from inside the piano and the rest was history.

I remember not being able to take my eyes off of my ring and wanting to flaunt it everywhere I went. Four years later and the diamond on my ring has lost a bit of its luster but as for our marriage, I think we can both agree that we are getting the hang of this. It has been by far one of the most wonderful relationships I have ever experienced and I am so very grateful that God chose the husband that he did for me. He gave me much more than I ever expected or thought I needed.

For all of you single ladies out there patiently waiting for your prince. I would like to encourage you to give your heart to the Lord and trust that He can do a much better job of picking your future mate than you can on your own. In the meantime, meditate on our favorite verse. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Resisting the Urge to Complain

Image courtesy of Fl00d on Flickr.

One of the ugliest things, we as wives can do, is complain to our friends (or anybody else for that matter) about our husband. If you've been married for any length of time, be it 6 months or 6 years, you know that conflict is bound to happen. You also understand that conflict in and of itself is not bad because it can have the power to draw us closer to each other when handled correctly.

I have learned in the past 3 years and almost 9 months of marriage that there are some things that my husband will do that will inevitably irritate me as there are countless things I can do to ruffle his feathers. It is at those precise moments when we can choose to be most like Christ by loving our spouse, flaws and all, whether we agree on everything or not.

So when tempted to complain about your husband, may I encourage you to zip your lips. You will have to learn how to deal with his idiosyncrasies with God and allow Him to change the way you view your husband and react when annoyed. Remember that when you speak ill of your spouse, you are leaving room for others to criticize him. Many times, it is really nothing they have done wrong, but simply, our time of the month and everything they do or don't do seems to irritate us. Be gracious and kind (Trust me that I am writing this mostly to myself).

Like the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:12 may it be said of us, "She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life."

For my husband,

I know I've failed many times but I vow to spending the rest of my life learning how to love you by respecting you. When things hurt me rather than run to others and get them to side with me, I will turn to God in prayer. Thank you for always trying to protect me and demonstrating how to protect you in return.

I love you even when I don't show it. I love you not because I feel it but because I chose to every day of my life.

Your linda,
Indi

"The Giving Tree"

Maybe you're familiar with Shel Silversteins book, "The Giving Tree". It's actually one of my favorites. It's about a tree that loves his owner so much that he is willing to give him everything he has and eventually does until only a stump remains. For me, this story parallels the love Christ had for us when he surrendered His life for us and paid for our sin-debt on the cross.

Although this post is not specifically about the book it is about Christ's love for us. Christ's love has been demonstrated to me through my mother. You see, my mother brought us up as a single mother. She did her best to give us everything we wanted and needed and never did she fall short. Actually she continues doing that even now that my sister, Deby, and I are married. Giving for my mother equates joy.

One of the things my mom has been giving us this summer are the fruits from her mango tree. She not only has shared with us but with countless others. I am amazed at just how much fruit that tree has beared and I am convinced that the reason my mom has this tree in her backyard with an overflow of mangos is because of her sincere desire to give and put a smile on someone else's face.

The older I get the more I realize what an amazing woman my mother is. People always say you will understand how much your parents love you once you have your own kids but I don't need to wait until then. I understand now.

My mami with my little sister, Danielle.

First Love

Do you remember the time when you first fell in love with the Lord? It was the only thing you talked about. Your friends thought you were crazy, your parents called you fanatics and you could not get enough of him at church. I do! And although it wasn't too long ago, I can't say I've still got those butterflies for God like I did in the beginning.

Pastor Lucas used the text in Revelations 2:1-5 for the third sermon in the series, "Does it Bother You (When Our Church is Cold)?". He encouraged us to remember how we felt when we first came to know Christ. We all struggle with this at one point or another (most of us will struggle with this throughout our entire walk with Christ).

Once you remember then you need to repent from what he called the sin of apathy. He explained that the "sin of apathy" is when we just don't care about what is going on around us. People are perishing, we don't care. People are hurting, we don't care. People are hungry, we don't care. This can be due to the fact that we have misplaced priorities (relationships, jobs, money, etc. taking the front side to God) or we are simply taking things for granted (God's always there when I need him).

So after we remember and repent the last thing we need to do is return to our first love. When I meet someone that has just accepted Christ as their savior, I can see the fire in their eyes and in the way they speak about Jesus; it's written all over their face. I think this is how all believers should look to the rest of the world.

If you are unsure today of whether you know Jesus or not, I pray that the Lord will reveal himself to you in a real way. And if you find yourself where I did, forsaking your first love, I pray that you will return to him.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
-Psalm 34:8

*Heart of Worship 10/40 on Flickr by Marculio

My Husband's 27th Birthday

Tomorrow the most important man in my life will be turning 27 years old. This man is not only my husband but he is also my bestfriend, my pastor, my counselor, my encourager and so much more.

If you have had the privilege of meeting Lucas and call him a friend will you tell him one thing that makes him special for you. Since it is his 27th birthday, let's aim to leave 27 comments.

I'll go first:

1. Luki, you are a living example of what it means to live for Christ. You follow him and go where he calls you to go without reservations. Your desires are always second to the needs of the church (and not just the physical church where we congregate but the body of Christ). I admire that about you and you are truly an inspiration for me. Eu te amo!

*The picture above was taken at his 23rd birthday. It was the first birthday we celebrated together. I threw a little Hawaiian themed surprise party for him at Resurrection Baptist Church where he used to be the music minister. At that time we were just boyfriend/girlfriend (I knew right away he was the one for me).