Tuesday, August 9, 2011

..the Wedding weekend.. Take Two...

where to begin... should I talk about the lovely divorced and remarried ( after 10 years :S ) lady sitting next to me on the flight that at the end of a wonderful 2 hour long conversation told me to kiss a few frogs...?
or the many hours Michelle and I spent talking that first night... sharing intimately what God was doing in our lives... even though we really only said Hi once on the cruise...
or breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and a 3 hour drive to Birmingham Alabama... the exuberant welcome I received and the whirlwind of meeting my friend Mary's wonderful friends, one after another... again, sharing our hearts, our sorrows and the love for our Lord....
the southern hospitality and friendliness so wonderful and warm....
or maybe the next morning... Mary praying over me from Ephesians chapter 1: 15-21 and how it moved both of us to tears...

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
so amazing the Lord would give her that scripture passage for me....

while the preparations and festivities for the wedding of my Ex husband were going on, and all this was communicating to everyone was that it was FOR SURE no longer about me, when this was about to be written in stone so to speak... all and everything on my trip showed me that there was One who considered me worthy enough to make this trip an experience of a lifetime, it seemed, like it was all about me (could that be? it almost made me feel uncomfortable)... it felt like not only was I received with open arms but the blessings kept on flowing...

coming home and hearing so much about the dresses, the flowers, the speeches, the people, and all the feelings my children had.... I am even more thankful than I felt on that day for being showered with all that love....
TO BE CONTINUED.....

... He Knows Best.... who would have thought.....

sitting on the plane from Nashville to Chicago, meditating on a passage of scripture prayed over me during my trip ( love you MARY) ...listening to... you can guess.... this is what poured out of my heart:  ( sorry, these posts are not in chronological order...)






I praise you oh Lord,
For You have enlightened my eyes
I can see the immeasurable riches 
Of my inheritance in You
Oh Lord I praise You
For You have given me a spirit of wisdom and knowledge
Through you I am able to discern
I can live a life that brings glory to You oh Lord
I praise You, oh Lord
For You have redeemed my life from the darkness
You have brought me out of the darkness into Your marvellous light
You broke the chains of sin and gave me freedom
Freedom to choose not to sin
Freedom to follow You
Freedom to love like You
Freedom to praise You and worship You all of my life
I praise You oh Lord 
For You have given me eternal life 
You have prepared a room for me in Your mansion 
You are always with me
Your rod and Your staff they comfort me 
You are my refuge and my rock
With You I can do everything
Without You I cannot do anything 
You are the lover of my soul
Your love is faithful and everlasting 
Your love surrounds me like a soft pillow
You love me like a father, always there for me
A father who supports, provides and encourages
You love me like a brother,
Always by my side, blessing me
You love me like a husband 
Cherishing all of me
Fulfilling my deepest desires
A fountain of never ending love and affection
You have chosen me before the creation of the world to be Yours
I am saved by faith through Your grace
Undeserved, I, a sinner,
Dead in my transgressions You came and lifted me up
You took my heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh
You gave me Your Spirit as a counsellor 
To lead me and guide me and continue to shape me and mold me
I am Your's, Lord
I surrender all I am to You 
I praise You , oh Lord
For You are the everlasting God, my Saviour

had the Lord not allowed the pain in my life, the depth of rejection and tremendous hurt, inflicted by those that were supposed to love me and take care of me, my heart would not know His love like it does, my heart would not be overflowing with thanksgiving like it is now... I thank Him for in His sovereignty allowing the sins committed against me... protecting me always from despair, like one of my fav scriptures says: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  ( 2 Corinthians 4: 7-9 )
Praise be to Him forever Amen # SoliDeoGloria