We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary by taking a trip to Hawaii last year. And yes, it was a blast! Between all the kids going to college, funds had been tight and so we hadn’t taken an vacations for a few years. Celebrating our anniversary gave us the opportunity to finally enjoy the time together.
Tom and I met when we were exiting high school. In fact, we met during our college orientation. It was at a time in history where there was still the ‘sting’ of civil rights and equal treatment for all human beings. So our relationship made a loud statement in the public eye.
I can tell you stories about being given the eye ~~ having people stare and murmur loud enough for us to hear ~~ people on the university campus trying to pursuade us to dissolve our relationship.
Our relationship was definitely challenged by the outside world.
But God was and still is the glue that held us together.
We both knew that if we were to have a future together it was going to require a lot of faith and mental muscle.
We had to make the decision to go all out to be all in in this relationship.
Was it hard? It certainly was. Did we ever have times where we doubted our intentions? Of course. Do we regret having put so much effort into a relationship at such a young age? Not in the least.
God was guiding us every step of the way. While we didn’t always listen to Him very well ~~ and there were times we had to confess stepping out of line with God’s directives. Two young Christians stumbling down a path that we somehow knew existed for us, but making some mistakes along the way. Praise God we landed in a church that taught us fundamental Biblical truths.
The intensity of our love for each other has always been strong ~~ because we know what it is to fight for the privilege to openly love one another.
The intensity of our love for God has grown stronger ~~ because we know that without His Love we would not have lasted this long (and we have every intention of going longer) and this well.
Going all out to be all in for God has been at the foundation of our home and the firm understanding upon which we have raised our family. We know that we could never outgive God. At the very least, we could express and show our devotion to Him by worshipping Him with our lives.
Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Going all out to be all in for God has indeed tested our faith in Him. I won’t tell you it was easy ~~ that would be far, FAR from the truth. We’ve had to remain steadfast to our commitment to honoring Him with the way we choose to live ~~ sometimes contrary to popular belief or current trends.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
I consider myself blessed beyond my wildest imagination ~~ for only God could have written this love story as it has been revealed over the past 30 years. And I praise Him for the privilege to continue to go all out because Jesus has reconciled us to be all in.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~ if you’re challenged today in your marriage, take heart and take it to the Lord in prayer. We all have the up days and the down days ~~ I urge you to protect, guard, treasure your marriage by praying diligently over it and for your husband. If professional help is needed, seek it out. Don’t give up on what God has joined together.
LindaRJohnson
T2T Visionary
Titus Two 