The Period (.) & Why It Matters.
Return with me to February 1986.
- See an extremely young girl who thought she knew so much.
- See her walking out from the side door of the sanctuary, stepping toward the middle of the room where she would (there) meet two men: her father and her future husband.
- See her wedding gown: a handmade suit created by her mother’s hands, one that continued to be stitched smaller as the wedding day appeared because the bride-to-be kept losing weight (the why—left for another day’s writing).
- See the small crowd gathered on that crisp, sunny day (a day after the reception night) because the bride-to-be wanted to do the whole marriage thing—different!
- See the nineteen-year-old standing there at the front of the church, situated near her husband-to-be, standing in front of their pastor (Bro. Jim) and her father (Donnie Gene), and beside their witnesses (Lanny & Shirley).
- See this extremely minded girl (child really, in both age and thoughts).
Hear the minister say:
“Repeat after me—Do you, _____ promise to Love, Honor, & Cherish _____ until death do you part.”
Now hear her answer:
“I do.”
That was thirty-five years ago, and thankfully, this once-young nineteen-year-old can still sit across from her once-young, promised-husband and still call him Husband.
Yes, thankfully.
Yes, Thank You God for Your guidance through the really tough parts of life that almost drove us separate ways.
Thank You, God, for loving us eternally and for guiding us, even when we looked inward rather than upward.
Thank You, God.
Period.
Today, in reading Scripture, I found myself returning to my wedding vows and ceremony so many years ago.
- I remember how I desired to do things differently—hence, the reception, cake, and gifts the night before instead of the day of the wedding.
- I remember how I desired to do things differently—hence, my dad walking to meet me in the middle of the sanctuary as both this young bride and groom walked from opposite side doors instead of allowing my dad to walk me down the aisle as traditional.
- I remember how I desired to do things differently—hence, my mother sewing a wedding suit instead of wearing a traditional wedding dress.
- I remember how I desired to do things differently—hence, the small crowd gathered (by invitation only) to witness the wedding vows.
- I remember how I desired to do things differently—hence, the minister was instructed to leave out one word from the traditional wedding vows and instead told to shorten the promised vows spoken during the ceremony.
Today, my heart is convicted by one word, a word that’s plagued my entire fifty-five years of life—CONTROL.
A beautiful melody played in my ears as I typed this morning by Jack Cassidy, a melody that plays often upon the radio, a melody with a good toe-tapping beat, and most definitely a melody that speaks to my convicted heart today.
“Let Go, Let God”
Pause a moment. Listen. REALLY LISTEN to the lyrics.
Then take your Bible and REALLY SEE these precious words.
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
&
(Philippians 1: 21) & (Colossians 3: 1-4)
“Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
We are not in control over our lives.
God Is.
Period.
God is good.
Period.
God is faithful.
Period.
No matter what circumstances come today.
Period.
As a believer, as a Christian, we are called to lose our lives as we let go and let God live through us.
Period.
As one who has been saved forevermore, we are to give our will to Him, to God, as we allow Him to be our LORD and Master.
Period.
Most every day, I find myself driving around an old courthouse where I must slow down and yield to another driver, who has the right-away, as I pause and then follow in behind the other vehicle.
Yielding has never been my strength. Just ask my brother-in-law, Scott.
Following has never been my strength. Just ask my husband, Darrell.
I like to call that action, “Just being the teacher in me,” BUT TODAY, I see the truth of what God calls that action, “An Un-repentant heart. Sin.”
Period.
At salvation, God made a vow, a promise with me.
My heart was given to Him, and His faithful promise of His presence will remain with me Forevermore.
Period.
It is as if God spoke to me these words:
“Do you promise to Love, to Honor, to Cherish, & to Obey?”
“I Do (beginning today) LORD Jesus, my Savior, my Master, & my Lord.”
Hear Jesus’ words as He spoke to Martha who was so bothered by what she saw her sister Mary, Not Doing, while she (Martha) did all the work. May we, like Mary, listen and learn, while we sit at Jesus’ feet.
“But the LORD answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
(Luke 10: 41-42)
But only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Once Saved, We Belong to God; We Are His Children. May We Follow Him As We Should—Period.
May We Walk in Obedience and Invest—Our time and energy into things that have lasting, eternal value—On Others & On Ourselves—PERIOD.
May We Say, “Yes, LORD, I do promise YOU, today—
To Do as YOU say Do,
To Speak as YOU say Speak, &
To Totally OBEY YOU as YOU lead—PERIOD.“