When the kids were younger, they would often be at Chris’ house up the street or Chris would be at ours. He and Taylor roomed a while together in college and have been close friends for seventeen years. So when Chris and his beautiful fiance, Lee Anna, asked me to officiate their wedding set for July, I was quite honored.
I love helping in weddings, knowing God has something special in mind for a man and a woman pledging themselves to one another in his Presence. I always feel God gives a special thought or Scripture for each wedding and Chris and Lee Anna’s was no different.
I was watching nine-year-old John take swimming lessons at an indoor pool in early spring. The instruction had not yet begun when John got my attention. From the water he pointed to a family of Indian descent sitting on a bench. They also were watching a little boy prepare for lessons, but I could not understand why John was wanting me to look at them. He became so animated that I finally walked close to the pool to hear what he was saying. “Dana, go meet that man sitting at the end of the bench… he’s a man of God!” The swimming lesson ensued and I went and sat on the same bench as the Indian family, more than a little confused by John’s declaration.
Every time John had a pause in his lesson he pointed to the young father sitting with a book in his hand watching his son take lessons. I could read John’s lips: “Go talk to him Dana, he’s a man of God!” Realizing I was going to be embarrassed one way or another, I walked in front of the bench and stood next to the father. I got close enough to read the title of his book: Men of God.
I learned that the man’s name is Daniel, as I struck up a conversation that eventually centered on Jesus. The book he was reading was written by Zac Poonen, a pastor who lives in India.
The next week Daniel brought me two books by the same author. One was a wonderful encouragement to look to Jesus as our Source of Life and the other dealt with the Christian family. In one of the chapters in the family book, Mr. Poonen shared advice he gave one of his sons on his wedding day. I knew this was the message for Chris and Lee Anna. Giving credit to Indian Christians in the wedding ceremony, I suggested that three simple statements might provide some of God’s wisdom for us all.
1. Be centered in God and not in yourselves. The hope for us being a great husband or wife or parent or friend is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus — not on one another. God shows us how to love and how to live.
2. Accept one another and don’t wear masks. Jesus accepts us as we are and this is the way we are to accept one another — no masks, no pretense, no hypocrisy.
3. Do things together and you’ll overcome Satan. There is an enemy who wants to destroy all marriages and all godly relationships. But if we live in unity and pray in unity we will see God’s authority and power over darkness and evil.
I’m thankful a little boy introduced me to a man of God.
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20
(The three statements are from A Heavenly Home, by Zac Poonen; ©2007; published by Christian Fellowship Church.)