Interruptions

Last night, Randy and I turned to YouTube and began to watch Mark Lowry! He is well known for his being a part of the Gaither Vocal Band, his humor and His testimony! As we watched episode after episode, we came to one that Mark was talking about the interruptions we have in our lives! And it is in these interruptions, that we see Christ more in our circumstances! As we listened, I sat there with tears in my eyes, thinking back over the last 28 years of marriage. Today is our 28th anniversary and oh the stories I could share! But as I think back about the interruptions that God allowed and how each time, He has proved His faithfulness and love for us, it is just amazing!

When Randy and I first married, we knew we weren’t (and had not been) living a life that gave God glory for the last few years. We had become pretty self absorbed and thought that traveling and entertaining and just going and doing whatever we wanted was the perfect life! But God….He began to work on our hearts and draw us back to Him and gave us a desire to live for more than just ourselves. Most of you know our story of how one Sunday in church Randy looked down at me during the invitation and said quietly, “if we are going to make a go of our marriage, it’s going to take more than just love with our history! We need to dedicate it to the Lord!”

For the last 28 years we have had several interruptions, moves to two different states, loss of employment, a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, a prodigal child and losing all 4 parents within a 5 yr span! Each interruption taught us that God is always there with us! That the battles we fight are not ours, but His! He desires us to lean on Him and depend on Him for our spiritual growth. Two days ago I read in Jesus Calling (which my DIL Shannon gave me for Christmas) this sentence:

“When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do.” …God

It convicted my heart immensely. Had I complained about these “interruptions”? You bet I had! Had I not been thankful for how He carried us through each one? No I had not!

It is after 28 years of marriage to my sweet husband that I am so thankful that he has always showed me that God should be my rock, my joy and my strength. Randy is very quiet, in fact because of the PK he has so much trouble Even speaking these last two years. But when he does, he does not complain or criticize! EVER. He has taught me so much spiritually! His life points me to God by his faithfulness to me, to our blended family, our precious Church family but most of all, Jesus! We are learning together to accept the interruptions God allows in our lives and to look for the glimpses of Gods goodness as we walk in the path that He has just for us! We are deeply grateful for all The Lord has done for us. He has always gone above and beyond anything we had ever hoped for! He has provided, protected and guided us in the hardest of days!

It is with a grateful heart that I want to thank God for His goodness and love for us, and also to say thanks to The best husband I could ever imagine! Happy Anniversary to Mr Peter Pumpkin, Aka Frosty and Mr Randy (he got that name when he use to style and color my hair)!

May any future Interruptions be accepted with grateful hearts and dependency on our Father God!

Hebrews 4:16 “ Let us then approach the throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”