I had a few extra minutes with the mirror this morning.  I noticed my beauty marks once again-- beauty marks I haven’t paid attention to in a long time.  I forgot I even carried them. Funny. 
      I like my beauty marks.  They make me—me—different from anyone else.   
My son has one on his leg and I tell him “Your wife is going to think that is soo adorable about you one day.  You’re so unique.”  Marks of beauty and richness are not merely given to the rich and famous.
      Have you forgotten the beauty marks God gave you? Have you forgotten how very beautiful you are?  For instance, not only the physical beauty marks you possess, but the beauty marks you leave behind in the ministry you work in?  Beauty marks of how you touch people’s lives with your warmth and concern?  Beauty marks of how you care and do for others the way no one else may?  You may be even unaware you carry beauty marks of other giftings and talents yet to be discovered.
     God made you beautiful from the start—from the inside and the skin level on out.
Hey, beautiful You…I love your beauty marks!

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.” 
~Psalm 139:13-17 NLT

     As I’ve spoken amongst singles, there are more complications getting together with your spouse at an older age (like 40’s
on up).  I’ve not said impossible; I’ve just said more complicated.  There are more concerns getting in the way, causing questions, making the opportunity for possible doubt (blending families, combining homes that don't sell easy these days, underemployment, availability of time, debt, aging parents or sickness).  The world has stuff going on more than ever before.   
      Don’t shy away too soon.  You may have to work through the complications.  They are BOUND to be there or else I believe you are dating someone invisible.  We often immediately think the complications are ‘red flags’, but they may be only fear or seeing that “yes, there is an issue to talk and learn through”.  The complications may come across as fear, which must be worked through with God and by communicating the concerns or wonderings through with the other person.  The real question is how much does God want you to work through in it.
     I’m aware of an experience where the man was very concerned he would not be able to devote the time to a relationship.  The man and woman did go on to date for a short bit.  Because they were both understanding, concerned about the other person’s needs/responsibilities/dedications and were flexible, they saw each other just fine.  So you see that was a valid and fearful concern of the man, but it turned out to work well as they worked well together.
     As I say in my book, I think there are many shades of grey or gray when it comes to relationships.  It’s not always so
black and white…do this, you get that for sure. But I think God and the Holy Spirit are really good at the grey/gray thing. 
The Holy Spirit will direct you THROUGH IT or yes, even out of it possibly. You may be taking a few steps to test the waters if you’re not completely sure and you’ve battled this thought of seeing/courting/dating them for a  longt time now.   Ask and trust the Lord to open and close the doors (Revelation 3:7). “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will
guide you with My eye" (Psalm 32:8).  What do you see that I don't Lord?  Show  me.
      If God says no to a relationship, it doesn’t mean either person is bad or problematic, it could just mean they are not the right ones for each other.  God has plans for each of us--Kingdom plans, ministry plans, joyous plans.  He knows the desires of our hearts better than we even do before we get them; because He will eventually plant them if He hasn’t already.  He knows who
will be able to handle our silly, annoying idiosyncrasies and such too.  
     I want God’s best for you.  

     “It's Monday and I can't get you off my mind  :-)”  he wrote.  Can you feel the excitement and the longing in that statement?  Can you sense his captivation of her?       
      I have daydreamt about a man before. You can spend quite a bit of time in it; before you know it, even an hour.  There you sit going over and over the lines said to each other and imagining the ones you hope to hear/say with a smile upon your face and every feeling going as
deep as your bones.       
      Have you ever daydreamt about the Lord before?  Have you ever laid your head on your pillow and let His tangible presence come around your head and heart?  Have you sat in deep adoration lately and thought about all His amazing qualities—all His love, all His kindness, His tenderness. 
Sometimes I don’t want to move out of that place of bliss.  I could sit forever in His sweetness.  I love to sit and focus on His beauty, letting His splendor roll over and over in my soul.    Have you soaked in His loveliness allowing each good feeling to overwhelm and  touch your soul?  Have you let your thoughts toward Him well up within you and become a runaway consuming day dream of real peace and wonder?  Reflect on His ways and flawlessness; let your attention go toward Him; there’s nothing or no one else around so important or pure.  Let Him claim your mind.
      Reflect. He is the King of my heart, soul and mind.