"As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For Who is God besides the Lord? And Who is the Rock except our God? It is God Who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make Your saving help my shield, and Your right hand sustains me; Your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way." (Psalm 18:30-36)
This pretty much sums it up in words far better than I could have imagined... we have a great life! We have been so blessed by the hands and heart of God! Look at the darling wife that God prepared for me, and the children we have been blessed with! We recently celebrated five years of marriage in September (and have been a little on the busy side with moving and settling into a new rhythm with school and Erin beginning a new job - which explains the delay in updating our blog lately), and as I reflected on what we have experienced in just five short years together, I have truly been amazed by the consistent way God has blessed us. We certainly have witnessed the hand of God working in our lives, and are thankful for these immeasurable gifts He has given. What will the next five years hold? How about the next ten or twenty years? Even a lifetime!
Before Erin and I were married, we both went through a time of waiting on the Lord and growing independently with Him first. There is a special verse/story from Genesis that remains an ongoing reminder to us today about God's Sovereignty and unique plans for His children:
"So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her." (Genesis 29:20)
Jacob waited for God's timing. Jacob trusted God and His unique plan. I often wonder what it would have been like if Jacob wasn't willing to wait for Rachel... I'm sure those seven years of waiting were not just a walk in the park for either of them. It certainly wasn't a walk in the park for us. Looking back, however, I am amazed what God taught us during that time, and I know we are better together today because of it. In a sense just like Jacob, they seemed as mere days in the grand scheme of the rest of our lives together.
That is similar to where we find ourselves now. We are adjusting to a new schedule and lifestyle with the recent move and many changes. Through it all, we remember how God has worked in our lives in the past in perfect faithfulness, and in ways that surprised us. Behind the scenes, God is good... infinitely good, and we can trust what He has planned for us tomorrow, and the next day, and the next years ahead. We are witnessing many answers to prayer, and are thankful for all who might be following us and lifting us up. School has been going great, and Erin's job is a perfect fit for our already tight schedule. We are surrounded by family, and are settling into the church we went to during college.
We hope you and your families also can reflect and enjoy the hands of the Lord touching your lives as He has touched ours... that you will also know in increasing measure how great our God is to His children! May God bless you!
"Now to the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (I Timothy 1:17)
In deed, to God be the glory forever!
