Danny and I attended the wedding of a long time friend. One of my dear friends rode along. Her life is one with the crimson strand of redemption and love running right through the middle of it. She lives her faith with such grace and with such confidence in her beliefs. The wedding was a story of God's amazing love and His covenant promises.
The bride found Jesus after she was married and had two little girls. Once her heart grabbed hold of God's hand, she never hesitated in her pursuit of Him. Her husband did not share her new passion and walked out. As she was learning about covenant and believing that her God was bigger than her pain, she chose to not be the one who filed for divorce. Her husband did not seem to see the need to file either so for nine long years she waited. She prayed. She held on by a thread at times. She surrounded herself with Truth and friends who held her up and lifted her up in prayer.
When His timing was perfect, she felt released from the failed marriage but held firmly in the Covenant of her Father. With her final stages of full healing complete and a few hard lessons learned in her new freedom, she agreed to marry the man handpicked for her. He had never been married. He knew her God. He was solid in His precepts and His ways. And he was ready to be a father to her girls and a covenant partner with her. But God was not done yet.
As she prepared for the wedding and begin to make plans, the dress became heavy on her heart. Could she be a bride in white? Could she enjoy this day as pure and spotless? She asked God. He answered with a still small yes. She found the dress of her childhood dreams. It was new. It was white. It was paid in full through an unknown blessing. She walked the aisle washed pure and whole through the blood of Jesus right down to her red shoes shining brightly as a symbol of Who made her that way.
Tears flowed. Hearts swelled. Lives were touched by the very evident presence of Something bigger than all of us gathered there. As we flowed into the next room to celebrate the covenant we had just witnessed, I ran into another old friend. She ran into my arms and began to sob. Tears of joy that came from a place of deep redemption and new life. She too had a story very similar to the bride. Because of the bride she showed up in my den one Wednesday evening. We studied and learned together until one day she showed up on my doorstep scared, broken and in need of a safe place for her and her daughter. We found another friend with the same story who was willing to let them live with her. And again, God worked His redeeming love. In every one's life.
She introduced me to her new husband. Her Hosea who God handpicked for her. They have a precious 4 month old daughter. She is starting clean and fresh. And telling her redemption story with confidence and with love. There were women in that room that I had not seen for years. Each with a story. Each with a glimpse through the veil of our Amazing God.
As I think back over the day, I realized that my own redemption story shines brightly against the backdrop of the weekend. Even though my story does not look on the outside like these ladies, it is one of washing and cleansing. I was lost and He found me. I was washed and He reminds me daily of my redemption. He cleanses completely and totally. We simply need to rest in that Truth. Letting Him heal us to the point that we each realize that when He looks at us, He sees perfection. A child created in His image. Clean and pure. Loved and redeemed. Paid for in full. With a plan and a purpose.
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out
on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—
free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds.
And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!
He thought of everything, provided for everything we could
possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight
in making. He set it all out before us in Christ,
a long-range plan in which everything would be
brought together and summed up in him,
everything in deepest heaven,
everything on planet earth.
Ephesians 1:7 the message
Aaahh. Redemption!! Even though we walk in it every day we still need to be reminded of that. Thanks so much for beautifully reminding us who we are in Christ. Tracy
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