Robin Jones Gunn: If you feel far from God, guess who moved?

Do you think it's possible to finally decide that you really, truly love someone but not end up marrying him?

Robin Jones Gunn

marriage ends thinking

I look back now and realize that the gift of a true friend is that she sees you not the way you see yourself or the way others see you. A true friend sees you for who you are and who you can become.

Robin Jones Gunn

true-friend looks way

In Africa we having a saying, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' ...Before I go back home, I want you to consider us, Katie. Ponder what it would be like if we went together. Not alone and fast but together and far.

Robin Jones Gunn

would-be together home

[When it comes to God] We can't run out of second chances...only time.

Robin Jones Gunn

second-chance chance running

We all need to have dreams. The question is, does the dream control you or do you control the dream?

Robin Jones Gunn

dream doe needs

Within my heart a garden grows, wild with violets and fragrant rose. bright daffodils line the narrow path, my footsteps silent as i pass. sweet tulips nod their heads in rest; i kneel in prayer to seek gods best. for round my garden a fence stands firm to guard my heart so i can learn who should enter, and who should wait on the other side of my locked gate. i clasp the key around my neck and wonder if the time is yet. if i unlocked the gate today, would you come in? or run away?

Robin Jones Gunn

prayer running sweet

Lord Jesus,' Christy whispered, 'I want You to hold the key. I want You to decide what should happen in my heart's garden. I want You to let in or send out anything or anybody You want. Especially with guys. I don't want to ever unlock that gate again. I want you to open it only when the right man comes along. Take the key, Lord. Take all my keys. I'll wait for you.

Robin Jones Gunn

heart men jesus

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that God is a very creative author, and He writes a different story for every person. No two lives or stories alike.

Robin Jones Gunn

creative writing two

[A God-thing is] when something happens in your life, and you look at it and can't explain how or why it happened, but you know there's a reason for it. You know that God is doing something in your life, and it changes you. There's no other way to explain it except to see it as a God thing.

Robin Jones Gunn

reason looks way

Bad friends could ruin your whole life. Be wise when it comes to choosing your friends. You set the standard. You be the one who stands strong. Don't be a follower.

Robin Jones Gunn

bad-friend strong wise

Sierra felt full of hope and confidence in God. She knew who she was. And she knew Whose she was. Whatever mysterious plan God had for her life, it would be an interesting one. As Christy had said earlier, God writes a different story for each person. Sierra decided hers might not be a bestseller or even a thriller. It certainly wasn't a romance. But it was turning into a fine mystery. And she could live with that.

Robin Jones Gunn

romance writing interesting

Who needs a house? I'm talking about your heart. You have plenty of guest rooms there. And that's what you do. You open your heart to people. You keep lovely little rooms in there, just waiting for your friends to come visit. People feel as if they can come right in, just as they are. You don't entertain, you love. That's what lasts. That's why people like me feel as if I will always be your friend. You hold a special place for me in your heart.

Robin Jones Gunn

heart talking people

If God gave us everything we asked for, we'd be in chaos.

Robin Jones Gunn

chaos ifs

There are two words that you should use frequently in your youth: ´sorry´ and ´thank-you´. Use the first one as often as possible, so that on your death bed all that you have to say to your friends is ´thank-you!´.

Robin Jones Gunn

bed sorry two

When the devil comes knocking on your door simply say "Jesus, it's for you.

Robin Jones Gunn

devil doors jesus

I think it's possible to realize you love someone as deeply as you know how to love and not end up spending the rest of your life with him.

Robin Jones Gunn

how-to-love rest-of-your-life thinking

Sometimes the best answers to prayer are the ones God doesn't answer.

Robin Jones Gunn

prayer answers sometimes

It was the kind of crying that comes from the pit of the stomach and brings a headache with it. The kind that makes a person snort and gasp, and no matter how idiotic you feel or how hard you try, you can't stop.

Robin Jones Gunn

pits matter trying

I realized that if I was going to understand the uniqueness and depth of God's love for me, I had to mentally separate my relationships with people from my relationship with the Lord. God's love should never be distorted or diminished by comparing it with the friendship or love of any human who has let me down, rejected me, betrayed me, or lied about me.

Robin Jones Gunn

betrayed depth people

There are 365 "fear nots" in the Bible. One for every day of the year. Today I will fear not.

Robin Jones Gunn

fear-not today years