Psalm 91:1-2 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God: in Him will I trust.”
2020 Shelter in place was a lonely time but the Lord had me sheltered! I retired hesitatingly not having my next lined up but God did. The Special Touch Summer Get Away was canceled like many events that year. I ordered the t-shirt with the summer theme on it “God’s Got My Next”
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
That scripture quickened my heart and I thought, what is Papa God doing? My prayer for a husband echoed in my mind; a Godly man, a man who has a heart for people with disabilities. The thought of maybe someone I already know echoed in my mind. I told God my fears as if He didn’t know. Fear # 1- maybe my children would not be in favor of me remarrying. Fear # – 2 maybe I would have to move away – like out of state. Fear # 3 – this man might have his own children and grandchildren how would they blend with my children? I never spoke these fears out loud but my precious daughter, Becky came to me, “Mom you are a young woman you could marry again. And, if you have to move away, make it a warm place! And, if he has a big family – I’ve always wanted more brothers and sisters!” Okay then! She proceeded to play matchmaker looking on dating sites- “what do you think of this good looking man!” Put on the brakes! No no!
Delight yourself in the Lord – I had delighted in the Lord making Him number one in my life and He was my heart’s desire.
There was this man who I’ve known 25 years through Special Touch Ministry. He suddenly started coming to our planning nights for upcoming meetings. This was a major blessing because he knew every aspect of the ministry having served on the Tech Team for Summer Get Aways. Month after month he came and became an advisor to us. We ended our planning nights with prayer and I found myself opening my eyes to look at this “Godly man with a heart for people with disabilities” pray! I thought I will not breathe a word of this to anyone – what if this attraction is just my imagination? I started thinking of reasons to call him for advise on the ministry to hear his voice. A dream confirmed that I was to wait for Dennis and on God’s timing to bring us together. Our Heavenly Father divinely orchestrated this when on August 29, I received a phone call from him asking if I wanted to go for a motorcycle ride. I said yes to several motorcycle ride dates. This shocked and blessed a lot of people who knew me as a stay at home caregiver for my sick children.
Many conversations between Dennis and I revealed that we had a lot of things in common having grown up farms. We both knew Jesus as our Savior and we suffered the loss of our spouses. We called it “peeling onions” as we shared our life stories. Layer after layer of hidden painful memories we shared; hurts, wounds, betrayals, and dysfunction. The loving Hand of God brought us into a new level of growth with Him as we shared with each other. We agreed that God was building a relationship between us for many reasons.
Peeling onions makes you cry. But GOD…….
Isaiah 61:3 KJV “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”
From the song, “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”. “Beginning. Just let that word wash over you. It’s alright now. Love’s healing hands have pulled you through. So get back up, take step one. Leave the darkness, feel the sun. Because your story’s far from over and your journey’s just begun. Tell your heart to beat again.”
I would love to hear about your journey. God has a hope and a future for all of us. The Lord kept me through my darkest hours and now on the other side of that pain – there is Beauty and Joy, I pray the same for you.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story in, What’s Next Papa – Part 5
Grace house seven 
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