Three weeks ago, on November 11, 2011, a date which will live in our family’s memory, my oldest daughter got married! Wow! It truly was an amazing time for which we praise the Lord! The months of anticipation and planning and the last week of final preparations all culminated in a very special day. I had the immense privilege of walking my little girl down the aisle and performing the ceremony. Emotions were off the charts, but they were of great joy. As I danced with Betsy during the reception, we talked about how it all seemed surreal — almost like a dream. I do not recall much else of what I said — my focus was on Betsy smiling and nodding her head while her face was beaming.
But throughout that night I do remember thinking about the goodness and power of God. The Scripture says He is the giver of every good and perfect gift — I was seeing that in a daughter and son-in-law. The Lord’s will is described as good, acceptable, and perfect — we marveled at the Divine orchestration of bringing Betsy & Meda’s lives together as husband and wife. And Margie and I were eyewitnesses that our Savior can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or think — we felt extremely blessed through all of this.
There are other dates which I will always remember: early August of 1972 (salvation decision), June 14, 1986 (our wedding), to name but two. I imagine there will be more special dates in the future (graduations? other weddings? grandchildren?). But there is one more date to come, arguably the most significant day in my life, and only God Himself knows when it will occur. Either because of my physical death or the second coming of the Lord, I will be ushered into the very presence of the King. It will be the culmination of His gracious promise to me (and to all who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior). While I long for that day to come, I am encouraged in the present with God’s desire to continue working in my life — to will and to act according to His good pleasure.
by Tim Bruns, Pastor of Children’s Ministries
