Today is a celebration day in the house where Kathy and I are visiting.  There is going to be a baby shower and the grandma for the baby has gone all out in making the house “cute”.  As I look around me all I see is pink this and that.  The kitchen is filled with all kinds of “goodies” that no one can touch yet (except when Kathy and her sister are in the other room and I can sneak something)!  I’ve only been to a couple baby showers in my life because we men don’t usually get invited, yet I’m told I will not be alone today so we will see.

Last night Kathy and I went to the home of the couple that introduced the two of us a little over 34 years ago.  She use to teach for me.  I’ve talked about them and this story of introduction in my book.  It was fun to give them a copy of the book last night and personalize a note to them in the front of it.  It reminded me all over again how good God is and how important it is to trust Him and those He brings around you.  This couple knew me better than I knew myself and even though I’d told them “no” to meeting Kathy for almost a year, they had her come to their house with her thinking she was meeting me with my excitement and permission.  Little did she know the truth of this.  Yet, all these years later I have nothing but thanks for their faithfulness in following through.  Somehow they knew we were meant for one another.  They were right–I did need her and the grace she gave to me when I really didn’t know much about this Godly characteristic in relationships.

The devotional Every Day in His Presence’s title for today is “The Purpose of Brokenness”.  It talks to the way God relentlessly continues to bring out our brokenness to us until we learn to depend on Him with it rather than hide it within self thinking it is what (I) we must do.  It was Kathy who relentlessly worked with God to show me I could take the risk to trust God and man in revealing all I thought must be hidden.  My freedom today started with them:  God and Kathy.  They were the two who first completed James 5:16 for me:  “Confess to God, yourself and someone you trust….”  I will always be grateful for these two and for the couple that brought Kathy and me together.  This journey to actual freedom that now continues today began some 34 years ago with God using these great servants called friends.

OK, now that this is written–it is back to making the house “baby-shower ready!”