Head Over Heels

This is the love of my life head over heels loving on Henley.

God's Gifts

I'm writing this inside a house that we found available right when we needed one, the sign being put out 15 minutes before we drove by.

Beside me on the floor sleeps a wonderful friend named Henley, a Great Dane who just happened to be available as a puppy right after we had suffered the loss of another good dog friend that devastated us.

I'm writing to friends and family, most of whom I'd never have known had I not agreed to go one night (as a mere lad of 20 years of age) with a friend I met the summer before, to the home of a girl I had never met before.

Her birthday is today.

And tomorrow we'll celebrate 33 years together as husband and wife.

Coincidences?

Yeah, people find houses all the time.
And I'm sure you can make a case for your dog.
But God has this way of meeting our needs with way more than we expected. He delights in giving gifts to His children.

And no one who has ever lived has been given a more extraordinary gift than me, in the person of my wife Bunny.

I am blessed beyond measure. How great is our God that He in His infinite mercy and grace would look upon me, a wretch of a man and give me such treasure.

We are so guilty of looking for the Mt Sinai experiences and linger so expectantly outside the tomb of Lazarus that we forget sometimes just how often God uses life in all its daily experiences to teach us about His love. Our 33 years have not always been easy as the twists and turns of God's plan rolled on, but together we've seen God work again and again and again. And I've enjoyed hearing Bunny laugh. Yes, at me, but most of all with me. She's even more beautiful on the inside. Her grace and strength have helped me grow in God's grace and served as a great help to me as I have tried to follow God and lead His people. What a gift she has been and is!

She's my forever sweetheart and love.

Bunny's not here just now or I'd never have been able to write this. But friends, I thank God for her, and for what He has done in our lives together.

And I'm on firm biblical footing.

19 Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Col 3:19 (MSG)

Praising God for all His gifts, but especially one of them.

David
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Visit with me at my blogs:
http://davethepastor.livejournal.com/
http://davethepastor.vox.com/
Or visit New Hope!
http://www.newhopevalp.org/

Told You Someone Liked Me :) 

When She Smiles

Someone on a forum I frequent wrote that he had images of the mountains on his screensaver because nothing in Florida is pretty enough.

I had to disagree.

Wherever Bunny is when she smiles, that's a pretty place.

The past few years haven't been easy for us. Leaving home, leaving our oldest son, coming to a place where money is tight, where change is tough - well, we have lost a lot while we've been here.

But she hasn't lost that smile.

It warms me.

Draining the swamp

Picture if you will, a woman in the middle of trying to get 17 girls to learn about following Christ, to commit the Bible to heart, and to teach them to sing praises.

That's my sweetheart... the pastor's wife extraordinaire.

She came home tonight frustrated because she couldn't see the difference she makes.

My job then, is to show her.

Friends, ministry is tough work. Many of the kids she loves are only with us an hour or two a week. They come to us from hellish households and go back there.

But they come. And my wife pours her heart into their lives.

I think I'll keep her. :)

Was there ever a doubt? Somebody up there likes me.

While One Laughs, Another Cries

We took some time and went to the beach again today, and if there's a more blessed man on the planet, I don't know him. Having the ability to head to the beach with the woman you've loved all your adult life is a blessing, but just having her is amazing. You see dear reader, I'm not exactly the easiest man to live with. You see I have this job where I'm never really off, where everyone's my boss, where the compensation is more spiritual than material. Then there's just the wonder that is me - moody, irritable, too quick to speak sometimes, and stubborn.

But she loves me. We had a wonderful afternoon.

About the same time I was enjoying the pleasure of her company, a friend was coming home. In the kitchen there was a note on the table. His wife and son were gone. She had to find some space. Behind her she left one mess of a marriage, a business, and a man's heart.

While one laughs, another cries.

Think I'll go kiss my bride.

A Day at the Beach

The most beautiful woman I've ever seen and I went to the beach today. It was the first time since Hurricane Ivan.

Things have changed.

The beach is different. Much of the impossibly white sand was washed off and in its place was left almost normal sand. The beach is shorter due to the erosion and signs of struggle were everywhere.

But you know what? When we were out on the boggie boards floating on the water, or walking looking for shells, and I realized just how few times days like this happen to your average Joe...

Folks, somebody up there likes me.