Matt and Jessica met at a gas station when they were in high school. "I can say it was about as close to love at first sight as you can get," says Matt. It took Jessica a few years to catch the same vision. But Matt was patient ... and persistent. "I was very cautious about dating," says Jessica. "I had committed to only date a guy when I felt like he was the guy I was going to marry. Sounds crazy, I know, but I believe God definitely revealed this to me and saved me much heartache from not dating anyone but my husband." Jessica began praying for her future husband when she was 13. As she entered her teen years, she began to feel that God wanted more for her than jumping right into the dating game. That there was something better. She began dreaming about what her future husband might be like and the characteristics that she wanted in a man. "During this waiting, I was also challenged by the thought that if I had these high expectations for my future husband, he probably had high expectations for me as well, and I needed to be developing the characteristics of a godly woman and a godly wife." During her high school years, Jessica did turn down a few dates. "I knew that none of these guys were the guy that I was going to marry, and I simply didn't want to have to explain these frivolous relationships to my future husband," says Jessica. "The amount of fun or excitement that I could have gotten by dating these guys was simply not worth it to me. I know some girls may feel like they don’t want to turn anyone away because 'What if he is the one?!' However, I firmly believe if you are trying to honor the Lord and follow His lead, He will show you the right guy when he comes along." Love At First Sight So back to the beginning of this story: Jessica was on the way to a high school football game with friends (Matt's cousins and extended family) when the two were first introduced. "When I met Matt, I had been praying for a friend, someone I could trust and who would encourage me and spur me on in my walk with the Lord," says Jessica. Some of the character qualities Matt first noticed about Jessica was her positive attitude and maturity. "She radiated Christ," says Matt. "She was obviously beautiful." A few of the things that later drew Jessica to Matt was his integrity, strong character, and passion for the Lord. "It seemed that Matt brought up the Lord or some type of spiritual conversation every time we talked," remembers Jessica. "He told me that he was praying for me often and would ask about specific things he could pray for me." Just Say Yes Matt made his intentions known early on. "He told me up front that he wanted to date me in order to pursue marriage, and that he would wait as long as it took for me to say 'yes,'" shares Jessica. "After I held him at arms length for a while - ignoring his phone calls, sitting in strategic places so he could not sit next to me ... I know, I was awful... we finally began emailing regularly and talking on the phone every week or so, which developed into a solid friendship." They were just friends for about a year before she finally agreed to date him. "For 100 days straight, he wrote me a little note with a verse, and told me how he was praying for me/us. He would either hand-deliver these notes, or mail them to me so that I would get one from him every single day. This absolutely blew me away!" A year later, the couple got engaged. Throughout their eight-month-long engagement, they continued to guard the purity of their relationship in practical ways. "We did not live together or spend the night with each other or anything like that," says Matt. "We didn't kiss until our wedding kiss. We tried to guard each other and waited until we were married." As they each finished up their junior year in college at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, they committed to not be alone in each other's apartments. "These were sometimes inconvenient boundaries or seen as 'silly' by some, but they did help keep our minds and bodies pure before we were married," says Jessica. They also encourage other engaged couples to consider the length of their engagement prayerfully. "We knew that once we felt God leading us towards marriage, there was no reason to postpone [marriage]," says Jessica. "I wish all girls could know and experience God's best in this area of their life. There is no doubt in my mind that God designed Matt just for me and me for him. I truly believe that God brought us together and has given us an indescribable love for each other." Wedding Bells They married on July 11, 2009. Jessica surprised her groom with a song at the ceremony. "I surprised Matt by singing the song 'Wait for Me' by Rebecca St. James," says Jessica. "This was a song that God used throughout my single-lonely-praying-for-my-future-husband years to encourage me and let me know that He was preparing my husband for me. It was very special to be able to incorporate it into our wedding as a testimony of God’s faithfulness." Good Days Ahead "It is great to have such a wonderful support that is always there and has your back. You are never by yourself," says Matt. "It was more than worth the wait, so much more than I could put into words," says Matt. I didn’t just marry the girl of my dreams, but also the best friend, partner, and support that I could ever have imagined." I had the privilege of being Jessica's roommate for two years before she left me to be Matt's forever-roommate. :) I was encouraged by her trust in the Lord for His best then, and I still am.
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DJ & Kelley YunDJ and Kelley met at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. "We both were there to be part of their missions program," says Kelley. "It was a four-year program that included two years of instruction at the seminary and two years of overseas experience." The students in the program became quick friends - and several often even went jogging together. "DJ and I became good friends during this time," Kelley says. "At first neither of us thought of it as more than a friendship. Our focus was the missions program and heading to our countries overseas." Getting to Know Each Other But the more Kelley got to know him, the more she was drawn to him. "I realized he was the type of man I had been praying for," she says. DJ shared her passion for missions, had integrity, and made her laugh. "He even played guitar and could sing!" Even though she felt herself falling hard, and quickly, she didn't let him know of her interest. They would soon be headed to different places around the world, and she strongly felt the man should instigate and lead the relationship. In August 2002, they parted ways. They tried to stay in touch by email as technology allowed. Kelley says, "During those months of separation I really surrendered our relationship to the Lord as I missed him dearly and wondered what would become of us." In January, the class reunited for additional training. She was excited to get to see him again. A professor pulled DJ aside and asked him what he thought of Kelley. The professor said, "You know, when I saw my wife, I didn't let anything get in the way of pursuing her!" That was all the push DJ needed! He asked Kelley to dinner. She knew something was up. "We had never gone to dinner on our own, but were together with our group of classmates," says Kelley. "During that dinner DJ asked me if we could begin to pursue a relationship for the purpose of marriage. I was jumping up and down inside!" The couple talked with their parents so they could be aware and give the relationship their blessing. The Proposal and Wedding They made a decision to not kiss until they got back to American soil. "We knew we still had a year and a half overseas and did not want to begin any physical aspects with so much time and distance from each other." Just a week into their dating relationship, both Kelley and DJ returned to their respective countries of service. They didn't see each other until the following January. "It was along year, but we stayed in tough through email, a few phone calls, instant messenger, and at times video chat when technology cooperated. Mind you, this was before Skype and Facebook," says Kelley. When the group got together again, their classmates provided accountability. "During these two weeks together we talked a lot about the future, and we were confident that God was leading us to marry in the future," she says. After finishing their last eight months of service, they returned to the U.S. The couple visited his family in Maryland over Labor Day weekend. DJ and Kelley got engaged in September 2004 when he proposed at a Starbucks. "Interestingly, DJ had already had the opportunity to meet my family before we ever left to go overseas," says Kelley. They had visited her on campus in North Carolina and had met him then. "It was cool how God orchestrated this beforehand." They married on January 30, 2005. As an important aspect of their wedding, Kelley and DJ made it a point to arrange their bridesmaids and groomsmen in such a way that they could still see the bride and groom. They also incorporated the Korean tradition of bowing to their parents at the end of the ceremony and presenting their mothers flowers. "It was a way of honoring our parents and thanking them," she says. Married and Family Life "Marriage is more about God than it is about me and DJ," says Kelley. "It's not about me finding satisfaction in marriage and in my spouse, but finding satisfaction in God." God brought them together as they were pursuing Jesus, and now, as a married couple they continue to pursue Him and His call on their lives. "I want people to know that marriage is not the end all, but Jesus is." DJ attended a conference in college where FamilyLife's Dennis Rainey led a breakout session on dating and marriage. "Of the many things he said that were imprinted on me, the most weighty was this, 'Lust can't get wait to get, but Love can wait to give.'" says DJ. "I clung to that truth until our wedding, but it still rings true as we have journeyed in our marriage. Marriage was never intended to be an enablement of lust, but the highest expression of love." Praying for Future Children Another thing a mentor shared with DJ while he was in college was the challenge to not only be praying for his future wife, but for his future children. He asked if he was praying for his future spouse. "'Of course!' I replied, as visions of the prototype smoking hot, godly wife entered my mind," shares DJ. "'Great!' He said, 'How about for your future children?' 'What?' followed by incredulous silence. I lacked visions of prototype children. "'Well you should be!' he said. My mind was blown, this mentor having also been single at the time. Yet this short exchange had made an impact on my preparations for the prototype husband and father that I wanted to be. Was it worth the wait? Yes, but the waiting has just begun." DJ and Kelley now have three children. DJ serves as the lead pastor of Grandview Fellowship. "Marriage is more about God than it is about me and DJ. It's not about me finding satisfaction in marriage and in my spouse, but finding satisfaction in God." Tom & Michelle ValleMichelle was 37 years old and working as an English teacher overseas. Many had told her to return to America to find Mr. Right before it was too late. "They said that if I didn't go home at age 30 that I would never marry or be able to have children in the future," says Michelle. But God had different plans. "I told them I believed in God and He guided my life. If He wanted me to marry, He would provide my Mr. Right no matter where I lived." At Just The Right Time Michelle was visiting some friends and a guy named Tom came for a two-day visit. "It really was a 'God meeting'," says Michelle. Later, he emailed me to ask if I would mind him corresponding with me. He said he enjoyed getting to know me over our Over the Bridge noodle dish, and he loved my smile." Of course Michelle said yes! She could tell Tom loved the Lord, wanted to continue to live overseas, and thought he was handsome and easy to talk to. "I loved his honesty and heart for the Lord," says Michelle. "It wasn't love at first sight. We shared our testimonies, dreams... and his heart really attracted me." After corresponding for a while, Michelle asked Tom to reach out to her dad to get his permission to court her with the purpose of marriage in mind. "I told him that I was old-fashioned and wanted to protect my heart," says Michelle. He did. Not long after, Michelle's dad Gary came to visit and celebrate his 60th birthday. "We spent a week together touring around," says Michelle. "On this trip, Tom made it known that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me." Tom had also talked to Michelle's mom over the phone, saying, "I was a very special girl and hard to get." The Proposal and Wedding Leading up to popping the question, Tom gave her a small, black bag each day with a different piece of jewelry in it. While on a scenic boat ride, Tom handed her the bag again, but this time the engagement ring was inside. The couple was engaged for seven months. "We set pretty high standards to guard our purity," says Michelle. "I didn't hold hands with him until we were engaged, and we saved our first kiss 'til our wedding day." Another practical way the pair stayed true to their standards was by not being alone with each other inside either of their homes. She challenges other couples to not be in a rush to find someone. "No matter how long the wait, it is best to marry the right person who truly loves you for who you are," she says. "God gives good gifts, and His timing is always perfect." The couple married on December 31, 2011 in Colorado. "Our kiss was very special," says Michelle. She also enjoyed seeing the slideshow of their growing up years and getting to see siblings and their families at the wedding. Married Life The couple now has two children and are witnesses to God's faithfulness as they live in China. "He proved that He does provide in the perfect timing. It doesn't always look like the world, or what they say it should look like," she says. "Trust Him." "No matter how long the wait, it is best to marry the right person who truly loves you for who you are. God gives good gifts, and His timing is always perfect." I love you, sis-in-law Michelle! Thanks for sharing your story! We are looking forward to the Valle/Buckner reunion and "cousin camp" later this year!
Jim & Margey WatsonJim and Margey met on a blind date. She was a senior in high school, and he was attending the University of Corpus Christi. A friend from Margey's church asked her, "Would you like to meet a big fat preacher boy?" and he asked Jim, "Do you want to meet a girl who giggles a lot?" "It had to be the Lord's doing because why in the world would either of us have agreed to a date?" says Margey. For their first date, the couple double-dated with friends on Halloween. Jim and Margey lived three hours apart so they didn't get to go out again until March the following year. "After that, we started writing letters pretty often," says Margey. That's how they really got to know each other. Some of the character qualities that first drew Margey to Jim was his commitment to the Lord. "But he was also fun and respectful of me," she says. "He says I was the first real Christian girl he ever dated, committed Christian, that is." "Everyone in my hometown liked Jim from the start," says Margey. "I was writing to another boy also, but the mailman was a family friend. He would put kisses on Jim's letters to me and frowns on the other boy's." Both Jim and Margey had made commitments to purity before marriage. "We also committed our relationship to the Lord early on and made it a matter of prayer from the time we met," says Margey. The Proposal & Wedding Margey graduated high school and went to Baylor University. She would wait in the phone booth in Collins dorm every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. for Jim to call. They would talk three to five minutes, depending on how many quarters he had. Jim proposed to Margey at Cameron Park in Waco, Texas. On Thanksgiving weekend, he talked to her family and gave her the ring. They got married nine months later on August 28, 1959. One of her favorite wedding memories was when she started down the aisle on her father's arm and saw the smile on Jim's face. "All the pre-wedding jitters faded as I realized that the moment had finally come," shares Margey. Married For Life "I've learned that when I said 'I do' it meant standing by him no matter where the Lord called us to serve, making a home where he loved to be, and just enjoying doing life together. Life has not been dull married to this man! I've loved it!" "He says he has learned that even though we are different in many ways, we complement each other," she adds. "The importance of waiting for the right mate, the Lord's choosing, cannot be stressed enough." She challenges others to not let relationships grow out of infatuation but from the sense of the Lord's leadership. "Life will not always be sunshine and roses, but with a special person even the hard times bring you closer together and to your commitment to the Lord. I firmly believe that the wait is definitely worth it - no regrets." "I've learned that when I said 'I do' it meant standing by him no matter where the Lord called us to serve, making a home where he loved to be, and just enjoying doing life together." In 2011, Marta Castillo was awakened in the middle of the night by her then 8-year-old son Joshua. He was suffering from nightmares that his mom was burning in fire. She wondered what it meant. “I didn’t know what to do,” says Marta. She prayed. After talking with his school counselor, Marta asked Joshua about his dreams. He replied, “What if you die? Who do I go with?” Read the rest of the story here. |
PodcastListen to devotionals shared at FBCSA MOPS on Kennan's Podbean Podcast channel here.
Marken Media Co.Marcus & Kennan own Marken Media Co. serving the multimedia needs of small businesses. Known by the #devinecolorwall, we strive to foster a space for the community to CREATE • COLLABORATE • CELEBRATE.
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KennanI'm a lover of words. Sometimes I edit, cook, craft, or sing. I'm also a wife and mom. Categories
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