HEAVEN-SENT LOVE
Author: Almighty God
Chapter 1: The Adoration Chapel Miracle
Elly sought refuge in the Adoration Chapel as she went through sudden tragic deaths of her loved-ones which happened right after she gave up a promising career to pursue her love for writing.
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Brendan entered the Adoration Chapel seeking God’s guidance for his mission to the Philippines. Little did he know God's greatest miracle in his life was about to unfold.
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Brendan looked at the Lord with so much love, unaware that inches away from him was God's perfect answer to what he had been praying for so long.
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Elly was flipping through her prayer journal, seeking strength and to recount God’s faithfulness in her life and the promises given by God to her in the past.
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Brendan gazed over his shoulder, his eyes flashed as the thought struck his heart, “Wow! She’s beautiful! I would love to get to know her."
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Brendan waited patiently for Elly, but she is a woman of prayer. He kept stealing glances of her.
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He looked at his watch wondering if this woman would ever finish praying!
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Meanwhile, Elly kept her gaze focused to the Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
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Elly uttered a bold prayer, "Lord, I know You called me to be Your writer. Please give me a writing mentor."
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Brendan approached the Blessed Sacrament to pay his respects to Jesus. Part of him hoped the pretty woman would see him.
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As Elly opened her eyes she saw a man in front of her and in the depths of her heart she heard God's voice saying, "He is the one."
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Elly pondered in her heart the message she received from God as she continued to read her prayer journal; seeking for answers.
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As Elly didn’t seem to notice him, Brendan walked to the back of the chapel to wait for Elly. Little did he know that Elly also pondered why God brought him there.
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Unknown to the two of them, God has pre-destined that very moment for them to be in the same place at the same time, in the presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
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Finally realizing Elly wasn’t going to finish her prayer time soon, Brendan wrote on his calling card his contact details and planned to give it to Elly.
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With his heart pounding and nerves galore Brendan approached Elly thinking, "What will she think of me? Will she want to keep in contact?"
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With trembling hands, Elly took the card and pondered, "Lord, do you mean, 'the one' as my mentor? or 'the one true love' I've been waiting for?"
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Elly continued to reflect and discern God's will while Brendan walked out of the chapel thinking, "Will she contact me or am I walking out of her life forever?"
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Chapter 2: A Beautiful Friendship Blossomed
When Elly read the calling card & learned that Brendan is an author, she knew in her heart that he is God's answer to her prayer for a writing mentor. She is so amazed at how God answered her prayer right after she uttered it! The first time they hang out, they chatted for hours like long lost friends!
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Everything started from there. They attended Mass almost daily at St. Francis Church, which has the Adoration Chapel where they first met. Brendan comforted Elly and wiped her tears with his shirt when she was crying over a man who broke her heart. Brendan had always been there in her ups & downs.
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Brendan and Elly started a morning routine of running together at six in the morning. As Brendan has excitedly embraced the role of being a writing mentor to Elly, he encouraged her to write 5 pages every day to complete her first book, Worth the Chase: Finding Love God's Way.
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After running together, they would sit down, read the Gospel of the day and share how the readings relate to their lives. Their routine of running together and having deep conversations afterwards continued on a daily basis which deepened their friendship until they became best friends.
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Chapter 3: Love Emerged But Threatened The Friendship
After some time, Elly started to develop some strange feelings for Brendan and since she was once in an unlabeled relationship in the past, she experienced the pain of not knowing where she stood in a man's life so she courageously admitted her feelings saying, "I think I'm falling for you."
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Brendan was shocked at Elly's revelation. He was afraid that Elly was just emotionally attached to him. He longed to hear that she is also physically attracted to him, and not just simply admiring him for his deep faith and advocacy for purity. Brendan answered, "It takes time for love to blossom."
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Upon hearing Brendan's reply, Elly wished the ground would break in two so she can be swallowed and not be seen by Brendan anymore. She felt so ashamed of her confession and hearing Brendan say that for him she is only a dear sister broke her heart so she wanted to end their friendship.
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Brendan pondered in his heart that Elly is such a great blessing to his life. She massaged his lonely heart, bringing joy to his life. In a country where he doesn't know the language and people, Elly is such a breath of fresh air and he didn't want to let go of the beautiful friendship they share.
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Chapter 4: Blessings Behind A Terrible Tragedy
Elly recalled how God guided Brendan towards her when she prayed for a writing mentor. She knew in her heart that she has to finish the mission God has entrusted to her. She put aside her feelings and agreed to continue their friendship and even asked Brendan to collaborate with her on a project, a book on Godly dating dedicated for both men and women. Thus, Worth the Chase: Finding Love God's Way was born.
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But as in every story, everything wasn't smooth sailing. Brendan received a tragic news from his home New Zealand which shattered his heart. He spoke to a singles gathering saying, "We have to remain joyful in the Lord, even when someone close to us dies." He had no idea that would resonate so much to him. His closest brother died a sudden death that same day. Elly allowed Brendan to cry on her shoulder.
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When Elly saw Brendan cried for the first time, her compassionate heart was broken in pieces. She felt the desire to take away his pain. Elly caressed Brendan's hair and put her hand over his, hoping to make him feel better.
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Elly interlocked her fingers with Brendan's. He felt the desire to kiss her but he also knew it wasn't the right time. He respects Elly too much that he didn't want her to feel taken advantaged of by his situation. Her presence alone comforted his shattered heart.
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Chapter 5: Tragic Loss Led To Love
The night before Brendan's flight back to New Zealand, he asked Elly out so they could say their goodbyes. They went to a convenient store and decided to share a drink to celebrate their friendship and what they believe is their last chance of being together. Deep within their hearts were a mixture of emotions.
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They recalled their happy times as best friends, running mates, and prayer buddies and how amazing their first meeting was! That of all places, God brought them together, was in His presence; and how their friendship gave birth to a book that was powerfully touching hearts for God.
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Brendan looked at Elly with the thought of kissing her. While gazing at her Brendan remembered that beautiful moment when Elly was comforting him over his brother's death; how he felt so good with her fingers interlocking his. He recalled how amazing it felt being with her in his sorrow; and how wonderful it felt being caressed with so much gentleness by Elly's delicate and soft hands.
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Although Elly's heart was crying at the thought that she might never see Brendan again, she hid her pain through a radiant smile. She longed to let him know how much his presence in her life meant so much to her. She wanted to tell him that he has a special place in her heart, a place no one could ever replace. It broke her heart that just when they were getting along well, he had to leave.
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Chapter 6: Fulfillment of God's Divine Plan
Brendan returned to New Zealand for his brother’s funeral. They kept in touch daily through Skype which deepened their feelings for each other even more. Brendan wanted to court Elly formally in person but he didn't want to keep her hanging in a "non-specified relationship" so in one of their Skype video calls, he asked her to be his girlfriend. Elly said yes after discerning and realizing how God revealed to her from day one that Brendan was the one for her. Even when apart, they continued to pray and read the Gospel together. They put God at the center of their long distance relationship.
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After 5 months of being apart they were finally reunited. They flew to Bohol, Elly's hometown, for Brendan to ask Elly's parents personally for her hand in marriage. After getting their permission, they returned to Manila and Brendan orchestrated a surprise wedding proposal at a cinema where Elly's community and special friends gathered. On bended knee Brendan said, "You are God's greatest gorgeous gift to my life. Will you be Mrs. Roberts?" To the delight of Brendan's heart and the congregation Elly said yes to spending the rest of her life with him.
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Just a few days after Brendan's marriage proposal to Elly, he flew back to New Zealand. Being in a long distance relationship wasn't a smooth journey yet their love proved true through the test of time. They began planning their wedding despite being miles apart from each other. Brendan returned to the Philippines a month before their wedding where they were able to cherish spending time together amidst challenges while waiting for the day they have been longing for so long.
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Elly's dream to walk down the aisle pure finally came true on April 21, 2016. Brendan's desire to spend the rest of his life with the woman he has been waiting and saving himself for came to fruition. They were married at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish where they first met. What an amazing journey it had been! A living proof that God is a God of surprises! Brendan and Elly's love story is a living testimony that when we seek God first, our desires, hopes, and dreams will be aligned to His perfect, divine will.
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Chapter 7: The Beautiful Ever After
Two days after their beautiful, intimate wedding, the lovers flew to the island of Boracay for their honeymoon. Brendan and Elly praised God for giving both of them the grace to save each other's purity while waiting on God to reveal the love story that was far beyond what they hoped for. It was a wonderful time of getting to know each other deeper and an amazing opportunity to nourish their love with each passing day. Brendan returned to New Zealand after their honeymoon, leaving Elly behind to process her papers in order to be with Brendan for good. It was a tough sacrifice they made for the sake of their love.
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After 7 months of being apart, Elly finally arrived in New Zealand. It had been a difficult journey for Elly. Leaving her family and friends behind broke her heart. She deals with homesickness; causing her sorrow too deep for words. In every battle she goes through, Brendan is always there for her; lifting her up whenever she is down, and loving her even in her most vulnerable state. Together, with God at their center, they have built their marriage on a solid rock. Celebrating each other's differences is a continuous process. Learning to embrace each other's weaknesses is challenging yet they both decided to choose to love daily.
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And their story continues to unfold...
Brendan and Elly's greatest dream and deepest desire is to travel the world; inspiring people from all walks of life, spreading the message of God's limitless mercy and love through their testimony of God's faithfulness in their life. They aspire to write books on Godly dating, marriage, God's unfailing love, and parenting God's way (they joyfully await for God to bless them with little bundles of joy). While waiting for that dream to turn into reality, they share their experiences and challenges through their books, blogs, and speaking engagements.
Author of 6 books, speaker, missionary, and lay theologian. Brendan Roberts shares his deep knowledge of the Catholic faith as well as his many experiences in life, including traveling the world in answer to God's call to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Brendan loves speaking on topics such as Godly dating, Theology of the Body, the Holy Eucharist, Godly marriage, etc. His writing and speaking style is down to earth, full of witty humor while bringing alive faith, everyday experiences, and Theology.
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Author, speaker, and artist. Elly Roberts uses her God-given gifts to serve God and His people. Having experienced so much pain and suffering from childhood, she dreams of building a foundation for abandoned kids. She has counseled many women on mending a broken heart and finding love. Elly loves speaking on various topics such as chastity, finding love God’s way, seeing life from God’s view, overcoming depression, protecting life, etc. Her writing and speaking style is very personal, honest, and inspiring.
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Below is an animated video of our love story from the perspective of our friend, Grellyn Paoad who is so generous in surprising us with this video as a wedding gift: