26 on the 26th

Twenty-six years ago today, I married my man...again...for the second time! We were married for one year, divorced for 4, and now repeating our vows once more. So what was different? What had changed?

For one thing, both of us has matured...a little. But we were committed this time, not only to one another and to our family, but to our Almighty God, who had brought this reconciliation about through our 4-year old daughter, Elizabeth.

Just a few weeks before, she had spent the weekend with her Daddy. He brought her home on Sunday afternoon, which was Mother's Day. She and I had planned to go to Pizza Hut and then to play putt-putt for our Mother's Day celebration. She took my hand with her little hand, looked up at me with those beautiful big hazel eyes and in her sweetest angelic voice asked "Can Daddy go eat with us Mommy?" Talk about being put on the spot! He was NOT in my plans! He and I did NOT socialize together!! But I could not deny her request. (By the way, she definitely has the ministry of reconciliation!)

We ate lunch together then we played miniature golf. The afternoon was delightful. Elizabeth and I went back to our home, he went to his. All was well. Except that the Lord was making my heart tender toward him and I did not want that!! Everytime I would ask the Lord to bring me a godly husband, He would bring Buzzy to my mind and did I argue about that!! My Mom and my best friend would say "You know you still love him; marry him the next time he asks!" Grrr!!!

That afternoon was so enjoyable that I called him a couple of days later and invited Elizabeth and myself to one of his softball games. He was hesitant, and when I pushed for a response, he informed me that so & so (one of his girlfriends) would be there. Which led me to say "It is either all of me or it's none of me!" I was not going down that path again!! That was the end of that and I was the better for it!!! I would continue on in my single life. Or so I thought...

The bottom line is that in less than one week after that declaration, he was asking me to marry him again. And I said "Yes!" Two weeks later we were married with our family and friends witnessing a ceremony we had thought would never happen. But God had other plans for us!!

We have been through a lot of turmoil, trials, and temptations. But God is faithful; His grace is sufficient! He brought us through all those fiery trials and is to this day, growing us up in Him. We still have a long way to go, but we're closer than when we first started! I remember Dr. Adrian Rogers would tell us that Christians have the same problems as non-Christians. That's true, but we have the power of Christ to fight our battles, to be our comfort, He is our strength. I wouldn't suggest anyone rush into marriage as we did both times. However, I can testify that No marriage is beyond hope! I have 26 years of proof! :-) Here's to 26 more!!

Church

Churches. They play such an important role in our lives. The first church I actually remember was the little Pentecostal church across the road from my grandfather's house in Scotts Hill, TN. We were staying there while my dad was wrapping things up in Indianapolis. From there, we went to Jackson, TN; however, I do not remember attending church while living there. Then when I was five years old, we moved to Memphis. We attended the largest church in the city for a short period! After that, we attended many churches throughout the city in the years to follow. Shorty, my dad, was a choir director and every year or two, he would move us to another church. In retrospect, I realize I didn't like that! I would warm to others easily, but as I would feel I was a part of the church body, we would leave and go to another church!

During my teen years, I rebelled and quit attending church except for the obligatory Easter and Christmas services and occasional revival service. I continued in my rebellious state until my early 30's when, after having a baby of my own and being a divorced single parent, knew that I wanted her raised in church. This was strange to me as how I had turned away from religion, but I did know that I wanted her to have the "church experience". It wouldn't be for a couple more years until I would be born again and long for my child to experience not just "church", but the new birth.

In April 1981, through the urging of friends at work, my little daughter and I joined the largest church in the city; it was so ironic to me since that was the first church I had attended as a child in Memphis. But it was there, under the preaching of Dr. Adrian Rogers, that I came to know our precious Savior and developed a hunger and thirst for God's word. I had never heard a pastor explain the Scriptures as he did! But the time did come for our beloved pastor to retire and then on November 15, 2005, he went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. I still miss him, BUT, as with Moses, God's work isn't finished just because one of His servants dies!!

We made the difficult decision of attending another church. Is it sad leaving my church of 28 years? Yes! But I think God used this mega-church to train and equip us to "go out" to minister at our new church.

Am I excited about where God is leading us and how He is moving in our lives and how He will use us? YES!!