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God Brought Them Together

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January is always a special time for me. It holds the memory of the first date I had with my husband in 1980. It still amazes me how the Lord brought us together. Dale had been dating someone very seriously and I had been dating someone as well. Dale and I had been friends, but nothing more. On the same day we each broke it off with the others we had been dating. I was teaching school at the church where his father pastored and the Christmas break was over, yet he was still home from college. I was in the hallway with my first graders. We chatted, sharing with one another the break-offs. He invited me to go out and go bowling that night “just for fun.” What did I have to lose? We’d been good friends, and we both needed to get our minds on something else! We did go out that night and had a great time together. I was blown over at his kindness, his “gentlemanly” courtesies, and the way he treated me with such thoughtfulness. I was not in love, of course, but I had experienced a date with a man’s man that knew how to treat a girl and I was impressed!

Of course, that was only the beginning, and the Lord knit our hearts together in a sweet love that led us to marriage in June of 1981. Only the Lord could have orchestrated bringing us together at that time. It was a sweet love story that continues to today, for which I am so thankful.

I began reading in my One Year Bible this morning (I’m getting a head start on the year!) As I read the creation story I came to the second chapter in Genesis where God created Eve for Adam. It says in verse 22 “And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Adam didn’t have to do anything. Eve didn’t have to do anything. God brought her to Adam. God did that for me when He brought Dale into my life. If you’re married, I trust this is your testimony too.

If you’re still single, be comforted by the fact that God continues to bring couples together in this fashion. He doesn’t need our help. He can bring two people together from the opposite ends of the earth. Single girls need to understand that they don’t need to act flirtatious, put themselves in a place where single men are hanging out, or let everyone know they’re available. If you believe in the sovereignty of God, you can trust Him to bring to you the one that He has created for you to marry. Today simply be where God wants you in His will. continue to serve Him and be faithful in living for Him. In His timing and in His perfect way, He can bring the right one into your life. You trusted Him for salvation, trust Him for the details of your life too!
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A Lifetime of Waiting

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Story is adapted from Luke 2:25-34
By Denise Cunningham

Anna opened the door of the temple and with slow steady steps she walked into this familiar place. She began to walk toward the altar, her wrinkled hand gripping the smooth wood of the pew to steady herself. The smells of oil and incense filled the air; a sweet fragrance reminiscent of times of worship and prayer being lifted upward just like the incense and candles.

Anna loved this place. It had been her home for many years now. Seven years after she had married, her husband had died and she had given herself to the service of the Lord, and that was eighty-four years ago. It was here in this temple that she had served Him faithfully. She had prayed with friends and strangers. She had shared burdens and joys alike. She had heard the preaching of God’s Word and was reminded of God’s promise to send a Savior. She looked for Him here every day as she carried out her duties.

Today as she made her way toward the altar she heard her friend, Simeon. His voice was jubilant and excited. There was an air of anticipation and Anna felt a shiver seize her small frame. Though her eyes were dim, due to her ninety plus years, she thought she could see Simeon holding a baby in his arms. Yes, it was an infant and standing beside Simeon was a young couple, most likely the baby’s parents. Then Anna heard Simeon’s voice as he lifted his eyes towards heaven, the baby held tenderly in his hands,

“Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

Anna was lost in her own joy as Simeon then turned his words toward the young parents.
“This is my Savior!” she thought to herself. Tears formed in her eyes as she took in the details of this baby. Not just any baby, God’s Son, the Promised One!

Anna clasped her hands, tears of joy finding their way down her wrinkled cheeks. She would have wonderful news to share with all that entered the temple today…to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Christ was born, their salvation was here , their future secure!

We can learn much from the story of Anna. We could ask ourselves several questions in response to her life:
  • Who am I preoccupied with today?

  • Am I looking for the Lord’s return with as much anticipation as Anna waited for the Savior?

  • Am I sharing with others the redemption that has come through Christ?

  • Is my life happily filled with service to my God?
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Memory Making Crafts

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I have a video tape of our youngest daughter Allison helping me make cookies. She is standing up on the step stool stirring the dough. I asked her what we put in the bowl and she answers in her crackly three year old-voice,

“Sugar, butter, eggs”

“And and what else?”
“’M ms!’” (M & M’s)!

One of my fondest memories of being the mom of young girls is the time we spent baking or crafting together. What does a child love more than: 1.) spending time with their mommy

2.) getting to make something, edible or not?

Days are busy in December, but if you have young children in your home, let me encourage you to spend time doing projects together. Lay down newspaper or some kind of protection on the floor and then let them cut, glue, and glitter! We have several ornaments on our Christmas tree that we crafted together when the girls were little. They have become special treasures in that box of memories that we call “the ornament box.”
There are some great web sites to encourage your child’s creativity.

These are just a few places to get you started on a day of fun! Get out the glue sticks and have a memory making day! Be sure to take pictures!

(While the web-sites listed have great suggestions for crafts, I haven’t explored the other parts of their web pages; read with discernment.)
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The Fulfillment of a Plan

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Planning an event can be huge! My sister’s son was married last weekend, and while everything was beautiful and appeared to go as planned, I know of at least one detail that got a bit confused. Our efforts and good detailing beforehand don’t always end up with the results we had planned for.

As I’ve been reading through the Christmas story, however, I was struck by the reading of a phrase that I found three times within two chapters of Matthew 1 and 2. In Matthew 1:22 we read the first mention. The verse reads: “Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet…” Then next time we read it is in Matthew 2:15, “And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Then, lastly, in verse 23 it reads, “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” Each event in Christ’s birth was done “that it might be fulfilled.” God had a plan, a perfect plan that was executed to the minute detail.

That plan continues in Christ’s life as He lives His perfect life, then heads toward the cross of Calvary. In Matthew 24 we find Jesus in the Garden praying and being arrested by the soldiers, led by Judas, his betrayer. It tells us in verse 56, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” The last time we read this phrase in the book of Matthew is in chapter 27:35, “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”

How my heart grieves when I see what was necessary for my salvation. The plans that had to be fulfilled cost my Savior such pain, sorrow, and suffering. His life was in jeopardy from the time He was born. He was forsaken by all those that had followed Him. He was stripped of His clothes and hung on a tree to die in shame. It was all because He loved me that He was willing to fulfill God’s plan. God’s perfect plan for our salvation was fulfilled exactly as it had been prophesied. There were no slip-ups. Nothing was forgotten. No detail was missed. Our salvation was no accident, it came as a result of God’s plan and was revealed in His Word exactly as it would come to pass. We can be sure we have eternal life because, praise God, it was fulfilled!