Saturday, March 24, 2007

Something to Smile About

We had a wedding at our church today. This was a really special day. The two people who were married today are an exciting testimony of how Jesus Christ changes lives. Both have come from some real troubled pasts. The man was homeless before he met a man in our church who has a real heart and gift for ministering to people who are, for lack of a better term, down-and-out. He shared with him the Gospel, helped him to clean up through a local ministry organization, and later his family opened their home to him, and gave him a job with their shrimp (shrump if you live around here) and seafood business. It has been so amazing to see the change in him over the past several years.

So, when the church this morning was totally packed out to witness this man and woman who have been made new in Christ join their lives together in Christian marriage, it was a tear-jerker, let me tell you. The pastor gave the Gospel message during the ceremony as well, and the smiles on the couple’s faces were just so sweet. In fact, the woman couldn’t quit grinning from ear to ear the entire time. And when they read their vows to each other, I dare say there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. When they were pronounced man and wife, the whole place erupted in applause that went on and on. I’m telling you, this was a special day, and I’m so glad I got to be there to witness it.

It is an awesome thing to see two people who have traveled such a rough road before coming to know Christ start a new life together and to see their church family who has witnessed the change and invested in their lives as they have grown in Christ come along beside them and rejoice with them in such a real way. The pastor also charged us as a congregation to be praying for them as they begin their life together. What a nice day!

1 comment:

Sandy said...

There is nothing like a wedding. And this one in particular made me smile while reading your post.

I loved that the church was packed out!