HAPPY ANNIVERSARAY!

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Genesis 2:18

MEMORIAL -  something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., as a monument or a holiday.  2.  of or pertaining to the memory.


God was pleased with His creation of Adam, but when He saw Adam fulfilling his role, He saw that Adam was in need, and didn't even really know how desperately he needed someone to come alongside him.   I had busied myself (can you imagine that?) with my local church and had recently finished school.   Had a daughter out of wedlock that I was extremely active in her life, and she was live with me 50% of the time.    I had also focused this area of my life to fulfill God's purposes for me, and God saw that I was alone (not lonely....I had Him) and saw that it wasn't good for me either.

Enter my BRIDE Cherilyn E. Washington into my life during the winter of 2000, you don't read in scripture that Adam and Eve fell in love, or dated for a year or two, but I believe they realized (ok maybe they were the only people on Earth...I get that) they were better together.  If I am to be honest there were no sparks and dancing hearts when Cherilyn and I met, but we both had a relationship with the LORD, that we wanted to ultimately spend our lives attempting to please Him.  

So we decided to trust His leading and tie the knot, NOT HAVING DATED, within 6 mos of meeting.    I know crazy.....right crazy for CHRIST!  I was ordained May 27th 2001 during our morning worship service, then married my 2nd Love (2nd to CHRIST) that afternoon.   So today we celebrate, look back, at the memorial of a marriage that is intentional about LOVING GOD first and foremost, because if we are in a love relationship with Him, He will tell us what our spouse is in the deepest need for and equip us to love one another.   LOVING PEOPLE second, because if we ever get these two out of balance we can end up loving other folks that may ultimately cause our marriage's ruin. 

For those that intimately know us, all know we don't have A PERFECT MARRIAGE, and we've had some serious downs, and some GLORIOUS UPS......but we are up for the task with GOD as our pilot and we are constantly learning how to trust in Him to help us navigate the turbulence of blended family bliss!  I'm a pastor now (which I'm sure would've happened with her), and when I've been beat up on by Satan, and the world......she's right there making sure I have what I need to face the next days challenges.   We are an open book, and it hasn't always been that way, so we are willing to share what we've tried, failed, and even succeeded at and hope that when it's all done.......we will have encouraged others to remain faithful in their marriage, inspired our own kids to have a GOD centered marriage, and changed our community because of our devotion to what's important to GOD!   GOD BLESS