Personal Note & Announcement

“Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.” Ps. 37:4 “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt. 6:33   God, I delighted, and sought and You added… thank You! 

In all transparency, it’s been a rough last few years. But God.  But the God Who holds the stars in the sky, the One who designed the stripes on the zebra, the One who saw and too felt the pain of my failed marriage after 20 years.  He was there.  As I attempted to pick up the broken pieces of my life that scattered all over the ground, I seem to chase each one like that of a juggler who’s throw and catch went wrong.  But God. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Ps. 73:26)

On July 12th, one month ago from today, I married the most AMAZING Godly man.  Mark and I have known of each other for about 27 years.  Meeting again at the family farm last summer, we ‘noticed’ each other.  He too, had experienced a failed marriage, walking in the healing of Jesus, we developed a wonderful friendship.  I, with my quick wit and slight mischievousness and Marks solid calm manner and quiet strength, we make for a great balanced pair.

I have never experienced the love, acceptance, tenderness and protection like I am now as Mark’s wife.  What a gracious gift.  God’s gift of 2nd chances.  His mercy showered, His grace extended.  Not to mention we are having the time of our lives!  We laugh, poke fun, hold hands, play footsie, go for walks and the poor guy rolls his eyes (I’m afraid they will STAY that way one of these days) from my energetic imagination! And when he smiles, my heart melts a thousand times over.

But God.  He designed this marriage. We sense the call to move as one in ministry,  I may sit down and begin a study and he is there as I grab his hand and off we go on one of my many ‘rabbit trails’, the discussions are deep, life changing and spiritually challenging. He holds me as he prays, for us, our 4 children and our love for Him.

As a symbol for myself of the committment I have for my God, about 4 yrs ago, I got my right ear pierced.  This I took from what St Paul would say in many of his writings, “I Paul a bondservant of Jesus..”  ‘Bondservant’ coming from years of tradition.  In the O.T. after six years, the 7th yr the slave could go free, however, they had the option to VOLUNTEER to stay with their Master, but doing so it was for LIFE! The Master would take the slave and pierce his ear against the doorpost of the Masters house, then place a gold ring in his ear. This symbolized the slaves volunteering servanthood and the ‘life’ mark for the Master. Doing so for myself was a reminder, that I too, am a ‘bonservant’ of God, He, my Master, for LIFE!  In our wedding ceremony following communion, Mark replaced the little crystal stud ear-ring with a diamond, symbolizing a new fresh start in Jesus. Mark too wears a Star of David necklace he got while in Israel, I took that and placed it on him with the same symbolism.  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  Ecc. 4:12  Husband and wife and our God!

Psalm 92:4, what King David wrote SO resonates with me,  “You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.”   (NLT) What You have done for US!

The God Who splashes the rainbow in the sky, the One who gave the bee his buzz and the God of 2nd chances, “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

In Him, DeDe & Mark (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Heb. 10:24)