Originally posted 11/13/20
God loves me! No, really, God loves me more than I can ever imagine. From time to time in life I get the privilege of seeing a glimpse of just how much he loves me.
A few years ago my husband and I were in Denton, TX. We decided to go to a church there that has a pastor who radically changed my life when I was 19 years old.
A little background first:
When I was 17, my parents divorced. I believe that divorce is traumatic for any kid, and it was no different for me. My world turned upside down. I felt like I didn’t know anything about marriage. I never wanted to feel that kind of pain again. Nor did I want my future children to feel the pain I felt during that time. Even if it meant I was going to be single for the rest of my life, I was perfectly ok with that.
From a child, I had always been taught that any problem you had could be solved by talking to God and reading your Bible. I got out my Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and started looking up every single verse related to marriage, divorce, husband, wife, and anything else I could think of related to marriage. Now I had read and wrote down every verse about those topics, but I had no way of practically putting those verses into play in my life. I had knowledge but no wisdom.
Answered Prayers
I asked God what to do with this newfound knowledge. Not long after this prayer a pastor from Denton, TX came to the church I was attending. He was doing a marriage conference. Even though I wasn’t married, or even had any prospects for marriage, I decided to go see what he had to say. Tommy Nelson wrote a book that takes the book of Song of Solomon and explains what these verses mean. His book is called The Book of Romance. (Here is a link to buy the book for yourself.) The Bible has an entire book dedicated to dating, marriage, conflict, and beyond. The trouble is that it is a poetry book and difficult to understand. Thank God for men like this pastor who takes the time to understand what Song of Solomon is saying, and who can interpret it for the rest of us.
By the end of the conference I knew I needed to get my hands on this book. I bought the book and read it like ten times over the next few years. This book was so amazing because it explained every detail of marriage, starting with who you are attracted to. I lovingly called this book “My Dating Bible.” It was exactly what I needed at that moment of life. This book was truly an answer to my prayers. It gave me the wisdom to put all my knowledge into action.
About a year or so later I met my husband. Now we are about to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary! Like all couples we have had our ups and downs. Thankfully we’ve had more ups than downs! God used that pastor and his book to teach me how to be a Godly wife and how to find a Godly husband.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago
My husband and I are at this pastor’s church in Denton, TX. I had always wanted to shake this man’s hand and thank him for being obedient to God. I think it’s important to let people know how God uses their ministry to teach me life lessons, especially ones that change my life forever. We wander around the church halls when the service is over. The church is large and we figure Pastor Tommy is in his office. There isn’t any way we would meet him that day. As we are walking around, we come across their men’s ministry table. My husband had just joined the men’s ministry team at our church and now wants to pick their brains on what they do. As we talk to the men’s ministry guy, he asks why we are there visiting that day. I tell him my story, and he says, “Want to meet the pastor?” “Yes!” I say, and suddenly I feel stunned and honored and nervous all at once! Meeting this pastor has been a long time desire, but I didn’t think it would ever really happen. Suddenly, it is going to happen, and I am not sure how to act.
The men’s ministry guy escorts us to the offices and introduces us. I shake the pastor’s hand and tell him my story. Pastor Tommy asks where I was living at the time of the conference many years prior. I reply that I was living in Albuquerque, NM at the time. He instantly knows exactly what church I was attending. Then he says something that has forever changed me…again! He tells me he had only ever been to New Mexico for that one conference. In the 20 years since, he never once went back to New Mexico for any conference. This piece of information blew my mind! I realize in the moment that God sent this man to my city and my church for me!
God Loves Me!
As we walk out to the car, I just keep saying, “God loves me! Like really, really loves me!” God knew I needed the information championed by this pastor. The Lord sent him to the church I was attending. God provided exactly what I needed, at the exact moment I needed it. I have no doubt that other people learned something from this conference. They may have even been dramatically changed as I was. God sent Tommy Nelson to my church. Because he imparted wisdom to supplement my knowledge, I learned how to find the husband God planned for me. My life is what it is because of the book this pastor wrote. I’m not even sure how to explain what I felt in that moment, or how much this revelation has impacted me. All I can say is God loves me so, so much!
Just in case you need to be reminded, God loves you so, so much too! He loves you more than you can even begin to imagine. Just when you think you understand his love for you, he will reveal a deeper and more amazing love that you didn’t even know existed! Who knows but that God sent someone to you at just the right moment to help bring clarity to your life. It may even be the only time in which you and the person cross paths. Likewise, God very well may have you say something to someone you “randomly” meet that forever changes them. Be willing to speak up when God asks you to do so. Be bold!
Recent Comments