"I Can't Believe I Got To Marry Anna!" August 31, 1991

"I can't believe I got to marry Anna!" Those were my thoughts then, and I still have now 16 years later. I stand absolutely amazed at God's grace displayed in my life through the greatest "means of grace" God has ever given to me, my beautiful wife, Anna. Besides the day of my conversion, today I get to celebrate THE most wonderful day of my life, that being when she said, "Yes!" to me! Here are some of the details, that led up to that wonderful day...

On March 30th 1991, after we had been in a courtship for about 6 months (though we were good friends for two years before this) I took Anna out to a restaurant (that neither of us could afford). (I was 19 years old at the time.) It was a beautiful restaurant that had its own acre garden behind it. After our dinner, the sun had already set and we went for a moon lit walk in the garden. Behind its trees and spring flowers, we found pathways that led to ponds, fountains and little gazebos. Having never been there, I was looking for just the right spot to this memorable occasion. As we turned one corner, there it was...a beautiful white bridge crossing over one of their many little ponds. It was a full moon, and beneath us was the sound of not only the rippling waters, but two small swans resting against one another, asleep, softly snoring beneath us. And, by God's grace and for His glory, that evening I asked sweet Anna to be my bride...and then the most wonderful thing happened! She said, "YES!" That evening, for the very first time, I kissed the only woman I have ever kissed, my sweet dear and precious Anna. As we drove home to tell our families, the Lord then graciously provided for us a shooting star that shot across the sky, flaring up, not once, but twice. In that moment, both of us sat there in awed silence thinking, "Thank you Lord! It doesn't get any better than this."

Well, we were wrong...it does and it has. This morning, as I was drinking my coffee on my back porch, I stood amazed, as I have done many other times, reflecting on our years of marriage together - thinking, "How can it get any better?" But year by year, I find myself almost shocked at how God's grace keeps pouring out is kindness on our little marriage together.

What a blessed man I am! I still can't believe I got to marry Anna! (Check out those glasses!)

Our Soul As A Watered Garden

In light of this last Sunday's message when we looked at Mary's unashamed adoration of and devotion to Jesus (John 11:47 - 12:11), I wanted to pass on to you a quote from Mr. Spurgeon that speaks of having "one's soul under heavenly cultivation." Enjoy and have a wonderful day adoring our Savior!

***

Their soul shall be as a watered garden. (Jeremiah 31:12)

Oh, to have one's soul under heavenly cultivation; no longer a wilderness but a garden of the Lord! Enclosed from the waste, walled around by grace, planted by instruction, visited by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and guarded by divine power, one's favored soul is prepared to yield fruit unto the Lord.

But a garden may become parched for want of water, and then all its herbs decline and are ready to die. O my soul, how soon would this be the case were the Lord to leave thee! In the East, a garden without water soon ceases to be a garden at all: nothing can come to perfection, grow, or even live. When irrigation is kept up, the result is charming. Oh, to have one's soul watered by the Holy Spirit uniformly -- every part of the garden having its own stream; plentifully -- a sufficient refreshment coming to every tree and herb, however thirsty by nature it may be; continually -- each hour bringing not only its heat, but its refreshment; wisely -- each plant receiving just what it needs. In a garden you can see by the verdure where the water flows, and you can soon perceive when the Spirit of God comes.

O Lord, water me this day and cause me to yield Thee a full reward for Jesus' sake. Amen.

ALL MP3 Teaching & Preaching Messages From Sovereign Grace Ministries Are FREE!!!!!!

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Our New Church Building!

God is so very good to us! Come and visit us this Sunday at our new permanent facilities @ 10113 Lenexa Dr. Lenexa, KS. 66215!

C.J. Mahaney on Conflict

C.J. has a prediction: Conflict is coming your way...soon... Read his exposition of James 4:1-2. This is outstanding and why I so love this man and feel so blessed to be a pastor under the care of Sovereign Grace Ministries. Read, apply, change and enjoy. Take care. -Matthew
ttp://www.reformation21.org/Counterpoints/Counterpoints/342/vobId__6296/

"The Ninety and Nine" A Hymn about The Good Shepherd

In light of this last week's message on Jesus being "The Good Shepherd," my mother forwarded on to me this hymn that my grandfather use to sing. I trust as you read it you will be freshly reminded of our Good Shepherd's goodness and kindness


THE NINETY AND NINE
Words: by Eliz­a­beth C. Cle­phane, 1868.

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,
Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.

“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder riven
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

***
Oh friends rejoice in the Good Shepherd who brings back His own!