The Colour of Love

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,   so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 15:5-6 David Our icy fingers lay entwined on my chest. The outlines of the room just starting to become visible in the whispered greeting of the new day. It was indeed a brand new day, unlike any other in my life so far. I gazed down at my wife who lay curled up like a little ball, snuggled into my side. A small frown creased her brow and I wondered what she was dreaming about. I had so many dreams for us, born of the seeds God had planted  in my heart all those months ago. I could not wait to see them grow as we built a life together. Our wedding night had not exactly gone to plan. The tiny wood cabin we had rented at the reception venue was on a lake and looked wonderfully romantic. It had been decorated with flowers and all sorts of sweet treats, set to

  “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”  Revelation 21:2  Deidre Every joyful bride remembers vividly how it felt to stand in front of the mirror in her wedding gown. Mesmerized by her own beauty, the stillness of that moment feels suspended in eternity. Even years later, when closing her eyes, she can see that reflection dance through her memory to the tune of her heart song… “I am loved.”  Standing in front of the mirror, dressed and ready, endless thoughts flashed through my mind. The journey I had already walked and the one I was about to begin, weaving themselves together in a beautiful tapestry of love and life. Steadying my nerves, I took a deep breath and soaked in the gravity of the moment as it held me anchored to the source of my peace. I smiled as my mother’s likeness came alive in the details of my features, soothing the deep ache and longing for her presence in unfathom

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 David Dropping the last envelope into the basket on the dinning table, I smiled at Didi as she sat across form me, sipping her cup of tea . It had taken us all day to make our wedding invitations, after our commissioned order fell through at the last minute. They may not have won any style contests, but they were ours and we had spent a special day laughing, loving and enjoying each other’s company as we worked together to get them done.  In all honesty, I had been completely overwhelmed by the detailed reality of wedding planning. I had never even considered most things that we had to navigate through in the last few weeks. My simple notion of “he shows up, she shows up, they say ‘I do’ and that’s that” evaporated about five minutes into the planning phase. Even this

 Written July 2013 for a local NW newspaper. At the time we had no idea what awaited us or what we would endure, but the words speak to our hearts as powerfully today as it did back then.  The Oak Tree It seems these days that people are hungry and desperate to see or experience something real and tangible from the heart of God. They have become weary and worn down by circumstance and all the obstacles presented by everyday life. When you’re facing a crises and people tell you to just “keep the faith,” you are likely going to feel like screaming.  What does that even mean? The words feel empty and powerless. If we don’t understand what it really means to have faith, then powerless is exactly what we are.  In this last year, the Holy Spirit has worked mighty miracles in our lives, through the power of faith. The word says that “Fatih is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).  My goodness!! One year ago there was no physical trace of the blessin