I wrote this blog a year and a half ago on the occasion of our 35th wedding anniversary – a miracle! God is merciful! He makes beauty from ashes. The video story of my life is coming next week. Here’s more of the story.
Introducing Melinda: Blog #10
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:11-12 ESV).
To all the world it looked as though I had wrecked my life. It happened in 1977, the year I graduated from high school. I seared my conscience and deliberately sinned. By March I was a pregnant teenager. By May I had married my unsaved eighteen-year-old boyfriend and had lost my full-ride college scholarship, which had been endowed in the 1800s for single women of academic promise.
Praise God that there is absolutely no place where we are beyond his care. As bright as day, God saw it all, and he is sovereign. Because he thoroughly loves us, he orchestrates all things to work together for our good. Our actions. Our sins. Everything. He blesses us when we don’t deserve it. He makes beauty from the ashes of our lives.
That tiny preborn infant son—his beloved little self so precious to me that I stood against much opposition in order to preserve his life—was used by God to change me. My pregnancy made his father aware that he was, indeed, a sinner. Eight months after our marriage, my husband gave his life to Christ, and I recommitted myself to the forgiving Lord I had betrayed. Together, we were baptized in a horse trough on a cold January evening in 1978. Today we celebrate our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.
How can it be?
My fall into sin was a necessary ingredient in my husband’s salvation and my own cognizance of my utter inability to live a godly life apart from Christ. God knew this. He allowed me to fall, giving me over to my self-idolatry. All along, he planned to use it for my good.
This year I am overwhelmed by his unmerited grace. He has a kind heart beyond imagining. He does not give us what we deserve (eternal punishment); he spares us and blesses us beyond measure through the redemption of his Son. He never abandons us, no matter what we do.
It’s hard for our puny human minds to comprehend how God can take even blatant sin (sex outside of marriage done purposefully after a thorough conscience searing) and work it together for our good (beloved family and long marriage used as a tool to drive us into God’s arms).
John Piper says, “God has no afterthoughts. Every plan is Plan A. If he reverses a trajectory, that was the plan.” While I am held entirely responsible for my sin, God’s plan for my life always included redeeming my willful transgressions. My son’s life, my repentance, and my husband’s path to salvation were ordained before the foundation of the world. Inconceivable!
Though the way I began was in sinfulness, the Lord has given me my heart’s desire in spite of myself. He has patiently shaped my character and has carried us through all the messiness of a young marriage begotten in such a fashion. The Lord continues to convict, empower, and change us. Why he would do this is beyond me!
Our firstborn is now grown to honorable manhood and is the father of our three oldest grandchildren. After dreaming of having six children, God has bestowed them upon us, and they have multiplied. All of them bless our lives every day—this is completely undeserved. It didn’t have to go this way; but it did, all because of the grace of a loving God. We have a merciful Savior.
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you” (Psalm 139:17-18 ESV).
God Bless You both for sharing your story. I cleaned up my kitchen after having a few over for dinner and a few laughs. It’s 2:45am and I’m pooped. Being a 65 year old guy I can’t do to many of these I’ll tell you. However, I got into bed, turned on my iPhone to check my mail and relax, thinking it would put me to sleep pronto. Then I opened ‘Linked in’ and read the first few lines of your story, ‘Writing for the Glory of God’ Thirtyfive Years!
I was given my third wind. Falling asleep was not to happen nor did I want it to be. I was lifted up and felt goose bumps up and down my arms. I can’t wait to share your story with my friends who came to dinner.
God Bless both of you and your family and may you both enjoy your next 35 years. God does work in ways we can never explain.
Praise God that He sent His Son to redeem sinners! What a kind, merciful, and loving God we serve! I’m glad the story of our brokenness was an encouragement to you. With the apostle Paul, we say: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:15-17 ESV). Thank you for your kind blessing, Rene’.
Happy Anniversary my sweet friend! I’m so glad you included a photo of you & Tim!
Someone rightly said, “We are just beggars telling other beggars where to find the bread.” Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”………God’s method of salvation is beautiful. Allow someone to dine at the same table where you have dined. – Dan Zimmerle in His Utmost in my Lowest
Thanks for telling me & allowing me to share your table!
We are all just beggars. So very true. I’m glad we share a table, too. 🙂
The journey has been the greatest ever with you. You are a fantastic writer. I have enjoyed dancing with you for 35 years. Tim
You are an excellent dancer, Tim. Thank you for leading so well. I love you.
What a precious account of God’s love and grace! Though I have watched the story unfold, still I stand amazed at the humility that God poured into you and Tim and the grace to be open and tell your story so that, as Rita said, other beggars might also find the Bread of Life! Thank you, Tim and Melinda!
GOD BLESS YOU BOTH ON THIS, YOUR 35TH ANNIVERSARY! GOD IS SO GOOD!
Love,
Aunt Jackie
He is indeed! It’s all a miracle, his own doing, not of ourselves, all his grace.
A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU SWEET FRIEND! OUR GOD IS SOOO AMAZING!!! HE TENDER-LOVING KINDNESS HAS NO BOUNDS!!
His patience is unlimited. It’s a good thing! 🙂
Your Grandma and I were praying before the wedding that it not take place unless He could use it for good in your life. The answer to that prayer is apparent in what you have written! There could be no better husband for you than Tim has grown to be. It’s all God’s grace, through and through! I’m so thankful for what He has done. You are both amazing. May His blessing continue upon you both.
I’m grateful that Romans 8:28-30 is true. 🙂
I was just talking to the mother of a 16 year old daughter who is pregnant. They are Christians, and they are concerned about the road she will walk. I will share this so that they can be reminded of what the Lord can do when we turn back to him. So thankful for his mercy for me as well, sweet friend. Pressing on.
The circumstances differ individually, but Jesus is always the same. And he keeps his promises. He is a merciful Savior. I’m praying for your friend and her daughter. God works in every situation to bring us to himself and to orchestrate it all for good. He wants us to know him intimately.