ISSUE OF THE HEART: VULNERABILITY & TRANSPARENCY. Sitting in a hotel this morning studying and looking forward to conferencing with my fellow team members in Oklahoma City and I realized how Blessed I am to be married to my wonderful wife. Throughout the first 18 months of marriage we have faced relentless trials, tribulations, challenges and hardships as we have grown in our relationship … some good, some not so good, some even terrible (hey let’s be honest, shall we?). But this morning, sitting in the quietness of being with the Lord, He spoke to me through a book I was reading. It talked about how men NEED their wives, and how wives can destroy a man’s image and ability to do God’s work if they are not close to the Lord (and yes, this is soooo true of men towards woman as well, but God was reminding me of something that I was losing sight of). I want to give a GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT to my wife Grace for all her support and comfort during this time of growth and struggles. Yes, she is struggling herself as God continues to mature her (and I) into Christ likeness in our marriage, ministry and direction for our lives, but she is so supportive of where my heart yearns to be, and never criticizes God’s on going work in my life. I believe the enemy is aggressively attacking us as never before because God is calling us to something great for His Glory, and through it all she doesnt nag about the work and growth of Jesus in the healing of my weaknesses, or the work that supports us financially (heck, I do the complaining there!). Often she just listens and prays for me. Grace isnt negative about the church I attend, or its people, or pastor; nor about the new calling God is placing on my heart in Granbury. She is growing in her weaknesses, confesses them regularly, diligently goes to God every morning in prayer and the Word and works at supporting me as I so desperately need as a man. God is doing a mighty work in her heart and life and I want to tell you it means the world to me as a man. Is she perfect?, no, but who is… certainly not I !!! Weve been through it all this first year and a half… you name it; weve said, done it, or thought it… but always confessed, repented, asked forgiveness (sooner or later depending on our heart’s condition) and we’ve allowed God to work it out. The bottom line is that although we’ve thought it or said it, neither of us is giving up on one another, and neither is the LORD. We are in it for the long haul… or until the Lord wants us home. So why do I want to say “Yahoo!!” about my wife, and tell you I love her? Because even in the midst of hardship, loving her daily is something that I desire to do to honor the Lord and make her secure in that knowledge. Because through it all; good, bad, and ugly, Grace is a fully supportive, loving, trusting wife who will be honest with me, lovingly correct me when I foolishly think I’m right, but will stand also with me to the very end of where God is leading. In the end it’s about God and His glory, and what He can and will do if we will allow Him to lead us through life, and I know that my Grace is a woman of God that wants that as well. She is, and always will be a blessing to me from God!
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 11:25:12 +0000
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