“NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL”!

My freshman year of college was exciting but yet terrifying for a small-town girl. You can say I was definitely out of my comfort zone! Like when Dr. Hugley asked me to pray at the start of Missions class! You mean, out loud so the whole class can hear?!! I know he called on me just to see what his understudy was getting himself in for!
Many felt I swooped in and snatched up one of the nicest guys around, a senior to boot. Many felt the marriage was too quick and destined for failure. Granted, my “fear-complexed” 18 years of life plus his “21-year-laid-back,” albeit a bit “having to see things on paper” approach proved to be quite a shaky venture. But God had plans for us!

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.” [Song of Solomon 8:6, NLT]

There wasn’t a great deal we could boast about in those early years; but we had each other and it wasn’t long before babies became part of our meager abode. Yet, God had plans for us!

God ordained a Pastor’s family; And ministry grew, yet not without some turbulence that rocked and beat against our vessel! But God had plans for us!

The calendar on the wall needed to be replaced faster than I ever imagined and despite shipwrecks along the way, we witnessed the faithfulness of God in charting our course for the deep where we experienced His love has no limits. And we knew God had plans for us!

The ability to trust God’s plan through all the confusing events of life brought light to our path. And His presence became a healing balm covering years in which a fearless maturity had been demanded. Because of God’s great love and endless grace, not to mention His patience, the dark places of my heart have been enlightened. To boast of anything we have done would be a shame! It is only by the grace of God that I can still say “I do!” And I boast in the Lord God Who “In His Time” has made something so beautiful I can’t even believe it is us!

“But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me—and not without results: for I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet actually I wasn’t doing it, but God working in me, to bless me.” [1 Corinthians 15:10 Living Bible (TLB)]

“As the Scriptures say, ‘If anyone is going to boast, let him boast about what the Lord has done and not about himself.’ When someone boasts about himself and how well he has done, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends him, that’s different!” [2 Corinthians 10:17-18 Living Bible (TLB)]