18 years ago tomorrow, Eric and I stood before God, our family and friends and entered into the covenant of marriage! As I reflect on the winding journey that makes up the past 18 years, I can't help but wonder...what do the next 18 years hold for us? You see, we find ourselves at the altar again, in some respects. We are presenting ourselves before the Lord, with our hands held open and our hearts swelling with love. We are saying with a united voice: "We do!"

WE DO believe that the Lord God still speaks to His people...

WE DO trust in the promises of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...

WE DO believe that by letting go of the trappings of a good life, we are going to be free to go where the Lord is leading us, and fully experience an abundant life...

WE DO admit that we have some concerns, fears and questions...

WE DO, also, accept that it is often in the midst of our concerns, fears and questions that the Lord is able to show up and show off His almighty, sovereign and limitless power...

WE DO offer our lives to God, to shape and use in whatever way He chooses...

WE DO let go of our reputations and selfish pursuits, for, if we have success in this next chapter of the journey it is all for God's glory. If we fail or look foolish in our attempts to follow Christ, we count it gain in experiencing suffering for Him and learning how to extend grace to others...

WE DO acknowledge that it is only by His grace that we have come to this point of unity and obedience, clarity and purpose...

WE DO look forward to the next 18 years as an expression of living out the love, compassion and mercy God has lavished upon us; by allowing love, compassion and mercy to flow through us...

 

Tomorrow, we will also be released from our vocational role in ministry at Beechwood Church. At the same time we will be sent out from that body, to join the Lord in His redemptive work elsewhere in the world. A beautiful parallel to where we stood, together, 18 years ago. We each were released from our families and formed a new union, a new family. From there we were sent out, into the world, to join the Lord in His redemptive work...together. We prayed, together, on our wedding day that God would be glorified through our lives...our life together.

We continue to pray that prayer today. "In our lives Lord, be glorified...be glorified!" The voices of our two children join in that prayer. The covenant bond has deepened and grown to include them, as well. Together, we look forward to the years ahead with expectation, anticipation and faith in a God who always has and always will keep His promises. It is to His altar we come, in celebration and praise!

A pretty wonderful way to mark a wedding anniversary...