Español (castellano) abajo: 33 years and counting... It is so easy to look at the newly married today and think they are too young and dont know what they are doing. 33 years ago today Im sure many at Living Faith in Santa Barbara thought the same of Debbie and Me. The truth is, we got married a week after princess Di and Charles got married and there were many around us who had sharper minds, lots more talent, better job security (I found out two weeks before the wedding that the church where I was youth pastor could not afford to pay me anymore), there were those who actually said I was clueless to my face (who knows what they said behind our backs ;-) and there were those who always had a good word to let us know that everything in our marriage would get better. I still remember Mel Grams at our wedding ceremony who said, this couple is different, why? because they are in the ministry and it is not about their happiness, but the people they will reach. There were those who saw little in us and there were those who have and still believe in what God could and can do through us. We have seen what happens when the worst of people have a simple relationship Jesus and live by means of clear Biblical principles. We have seen Gods provision over and over again from needing to eat ourselves to God providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in finances for the churches where we have served without asking for it. We have seen Gods tender hand on our lives as we have dealt with physical health situations here recently where we felt like we were rear ended by a Mac truck while driving a Pinto. I have personally seen Debbies faith grow from, could God?... early on in our marriage.., to challenging ME recently from Jer 29:10 and reminded me in the middle HER extreme physical hardship of His purpose in our lives. We have seen our children go from the strong willed little forces in the back seat of our van as we traveled to visit churches to becoming the amazing people they are today who still like to be forces in what ever they do. I look back over the 33 years from the middle of this present physical health crisis Debbie is experiencing and I reaffirm along with The Lord, that there is this awesome passionate woman of God who was not only willing to see what was God going to do, but be willing enough walk in obedience to Him and be apart of it all. Everything and anything positive that has happened in my life is because He put this truly amazing woman in my life! Together we have been dependent on his influence in our lives. The truth Mel Grams shared with us on our wedding day is just as strong today was it was then. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. apart from me you can do nothing. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. It does go from good to better as the years go on! Thanks to all of your who have touched and been apart our lives over the years Julie Abate, Bethany Abate Babcock, Jo Ann Alvarado Abate, Mel Grams
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:44:27 +0000
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