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…
“I DO” all over again with you baby! Can’t wait to see what this next chapter holds for our family.
Wish we could be there at Beechwood tomorrow (for your sending out, not just for the donuts :).
Praising the Lord for your marriage and for what He will do in the days ahead! We stand with you!!
Praying your day tomorrow will be an awesome celebration of a job well done!! Feel the love!!
See you next weekend!!
Happy Anniversary to you guys! Praying that your day tomorrow is filled with JOY and PEACE and EXCITEMENT as you are sent out. I am sure there will be tears, but I pray that they are mostly happy ones!! Much love to you guys!
What a beautiful celebration of your wedding anniversary wrapped around the celebration of your “release” to God’s call. We love you guys and celebrate these events with you (not without tears, I am sure!) today!
Happy Anniversary to you both! You and your family have been, and will continue to be such a blessing to so many Beechwood families!! Thank you! 🙂
Happy 18th wedding anniversary, Jen and Eric! We love you both and are so blessed and proud to be your family! We are praying for God to go before you all in this journey.
Happy Anniversary to You! Our prayers will be with you each and every Day as you leave for Africa!
We read your “At the Alter” update after the service this morning. Happy Anniversary! What a beautiful way for you to celebrate your 18th Anniversary with your family at Beechwood. We love you guys and we promise to pray for you these next months. Your family is such a light in the world wherever you are at. May God continue to bless you and use you in his mission. Thank you for letting us be involved in your mission as Senders as you Go following the call of God.
Clair and I wish you a full day of wonderful memories of the 18 years you have built your family. We can see it’s been done with lots of prayer. You’ve made a big impact on many lives at Beechwood and we’re excited to hear what God will do through you in Swaziland. Keep up that wonderful ability you have to write…could be a book by the time you come home again!…a devotional book.
Blessings to all of you and we pray for peace and strength and good health as you get used to a new culture.
You will be in our prayers!
Clair and Diana
Happy Anniversary!! What a wonderful blog – God has wonderful things in store for you guys – can’t wait to watch it unfold. Wishing you many more years of happiness.
Happy Anniversary. Bless you guys.
Thank you all! It was a one of a kind, wonderfully sweet, kind of sad, but all together blessed anniversary!