Courtship Story #17 Wedding Date Picked by the Lord
Posted: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
by Marijo Phelps
Courtship Story #17 Wedding Date Picked by the Lord
I was enjoying the time at Youth With a Mission in Garden Valley, Texas. So many great ministries were in the area and we did things with the other ones too. We did an abortion awareness one with Last Days Ministries (Keith and Melody Green’s outreach) Dallas Holm lived outside the YWAM back gate and he was a great Christian singer back then too, Brother Dave Wilkerson was close by and some of us went to Sunday morning services in his Warehouse, The 2nd Chapter of Acts singing group was a short ways another direction. The prayer covering for that part of East Texas must have been phenomenal. We even ran into some of these Christian warriors at the grocery store. They were people who loved Jesus, just like us.
I was working in the front office of YWAM and we were having a staff devotional time listening to a cassette of Joy Dawson, who was a YWAM teacher. She was sharing a story of their move to the United States. Their container with all their belongings was loaded on the ship and they got word their paper work was done incorrectly and they’d have to start over and take TWO YEARS “just like everybody else”. That’s when their intense prayers began as a family and the Lord started working overtime we soon discovered. The date they were originally supposed to fly out to be in Southern California in time to pick up their container was July 14th. As she spoke that date the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart “that’s going to be a real important date for you”. After devotional time was over I wrote it on my calendar in red with “important date”? and left it there.
I had no clue what that date would be. I had no plans, was not involved in anything but friendships with a couple of guys who were, well, good brothers. My commitment was to work in the front office “until further notice”.
Months flew by and life was interesting – never any boredom in my life like I had before I met my Jesus. I had a number of close friends who were also on staff. Several girls and one bearded red head carpenter named Mick.
He and I had become good friends after I avoided him for a year. My ex husband was a bearded red head and I was not going to take that risk again – BUT JESUS. We had developed a close friendship and sought the Lord about something more (other pieces written about this). My birthday was in April and we had prayed and fasted and had prayer with the staff and friends and relatives…. And felt the Lord was giving us the challenge of spending the rest of our lives together! Several days before my birthday, Mick gave me a gorgeous emerald surrounded by diamonds in a ring. I thought this was his unique engagement ring to the girl with green eyes.
Then to my great surprise on my birthday he gave me a diamond, one ring for each hand.
“What date do you think we should get married?”
That was when I remembered my calendar with the circle in red around July 14th and the question mark. “Well, I never would have picked a Sunday to get married but…..”
I then told Mick the whole office devotional story and we set the date.
It turned out perfect. Those who drove from out of state could make in driving Saturday and then leaving before noon on Sunday to return. We planned a reception at the guy’s staff house. Now, I am not sure how many of you have ever been IN the guy’s staff house but cleaning it would have made us late for our wedding. Mick and I were already putting siding on the chapel nearby the platform by the lake where we planned the outdoor wedding. Getting that staff house cleaned would have made all concerned late for the wedding. Then, to firmly close that door the air conditioning went out. This was East Texas in July. We couldn’t possibly have a reception indoors without air.
Soon, my friend Kathryn, who had helped build and operate the Sub Station on the base said “hey, I am getting flowers planted outside the restaurant and it is closed Sundays, would you like to have your reception there? I can help…”
My sister came a week early and saw the issues I was having with well meaning friends who were saying things like “oh, you just have to have flowers all over the railing at the platform….” “you really need to do your cake like this…” SO my sister asked if I’d like her to take over coordinating. “I can just say, Jo would really rather do this, they won’t argue with me because they don’t know me.” She was so right and that was the best gift she could give me besides singing for our ceremony.
To keep from hurting anyone’s feelings mom was my matron of honor and dad gave me away. Mick’s friend who he had known at YWAM New Jersey was our best man and his wife the photographer. Beautiful!
And we became Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Phelps on July 14th! We were forever thankful for the great teaching we had. Intimacy was for our honeymoon and boy, were we looking forward to that! GRIN
Come by my blog spot for more photos and writings: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com/
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
Marijo Phelps,saved by Jesus grace in 1974, from 9 years atheism into His loving arms. She is wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media. Her name is pronounced Mary Jo. She was an RN for 23+ years, missionary with YWAM,statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ 9 years. Her first poem published when she was four years old. (her mom had much to do with that!) She has been writing ever since.
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
Her new blog can be found: http://myincrediblelord.blogspot.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Ah. the sandy pines on Bastille Day. "Allons enfants de la Patrie Le Jour Gloire est arrive." The Day of Glory has arrived....and it surely did for you. Beautiful story.thanks, it was wonderful and still is!
What caught my attention was the "Courtship" title. We have been working on this with our children. It is very difficult to say the least. Our 15-year old has girls following him around, texting him, etc. He doesn't understand why we don't believe in dating.
Thanks for your beautiful story.
cd :O)You might be interested in a Biblical series (Dale Crall youth pastor gave me permission to use notes from his tape series) I have written and posted on my blog... ALL the Biblical reasons to WAIT and what happens if you don't - scripture after scripture after Scripture.
I will try to e-mail those to you....BLESSINGS!That would be great. In October, I'll be taking over the Junior High and that is something close to my heart. I've also read Kiss Dating Good-bye by Joshua Harris. It does sometimes go into more detail than I would like about some aspects of "enjoying one another" and that has caused me to wait to read it with my boys.
Email: chris at jumbocdinvestments [dot] com.I just e-mailed you a bunch of Biblical stuff on the SW messaging system - plus there are the 17 courtship articles on SW and one on kissing too.... Can get you in touch with Dale Crall also who did the original lecture series on Biblical Dating and from whose series I based a lot of my writing.
Backs all with scripture and doesn't just say "DON"T" but tells what happens when you do - what things are messed up and "broken" and talks about forgiveness too and gives hope.
Many at Youth With a Mission, after the YWAM teaching on relationships and Dale Crall's (I used my notes from both) waited for their first kiss at the alter when they were married - these were kids who before that had been in the world and had much to be forgiven for but God made them pure once again and those "kids" are happily married now today 25 - 26 years later....
Glad to talk with you, Chris!I will get in touch with Dale. We have participated with YWAM for some Ensenada mission trips.
And good point. They can be made "pure" and forgiven and choose a different path to go forward with.
You have been a real blessing today.
Thank you, Thank you,
cd :O)
That's a nice story how you chose your wedding date. An important date indeed. Very nice. (The ring for each hand was a nice touch Mick). :)Thanks Brianna - it was a great beginning to a wonderful adventure - life with Mick!
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