Friday, March 29, 2013

Not Just an Ordinary Day

What a wonderful day it had been!  Our Sunday began with Howard and I accompanying our son Jamie to the Chinese church where he is youth pastor.  He led marvelous songs in worship while seated at the keyboard, then preached an amazing sermon, sometimes calling a Chinese youth or two to the platform as a "volunteer" to help illustrate a point.  The warm relationship they shared was obvious in their shy smiles and willingness to participate.

We joined the rest of the family, including Jamie's wife Tammy and her folks, at their home church in time for the second service.  I was touched by worship songs that were new to me, then was challenged by a missions report of a ministry trip to Argentina by the church young people.  After a lengthy body-ministry session to scores of altar responders, the order of the service was changed for Jamie's ministry credentialing ceremony.  Although he is already serving as a minister, this was a formal licensing procedure we had come to witness.

I really didn't know what to expect, except the presentation of the license, but it was so much more than that!  We were so proud of our son, dressed up (for him) in a new white shirt and tie bought especially for the occasion, sitting modestly and properly humbled by the elders' words of appreciation and affirmation to him.

After the formal presentation of the certificate signed by church authorities, people who might have a word from the Lord for Jamie or their own expressions toward him were invited to form a line down the aisle, come forward and speak the words to him.  Suffice it to say, I smiled through tears as I heard many comments and prophecies bestowed upon him that warmed and agreed with this mother's heart.  I was so glad we were able to be present, although we had no idea it would be anything this meaningful.

Finally, we piled into three cars and set out for a celebratory lunch in one of Houston's best restaurants, courtesy of Tammy's parents.  It was also our little granddaughter Maddie's fourth birthday on that St. Patrick's day, so we were a merry bunch, especially as we watched the children's glee at pre-dinner entertainment of a balloon artist forming a lady bug for Maddie and a princess for Anne-Marie at the table.

Relaxing at last in their mini-van on the way home, I sat by Maddie in her car seat with Anne-Marie in the back on her booster seat.  Tammy drove behind us with the family car.  Howard sat in front with Jamie.  Suddenly I was aware of Jamie calling out "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!"  I looked up just in time to brace myself as the dark form of an automobile coming straight at us filled my view.  Oddly, the impact wasn't as bad as I feared, although he had hit us broadside.  We screeched to a halt under an underpass, while Jamie leaped out.  The other driver went on, stopped and inspected his vehicle, then disappeared.

I thought to myself that Satan wasn't happy about our victorious morning.  I also realized angels had cushioned what had been a glancing blow, damaging the driver's and passenger doors, but what could have been so much worse.  No one was hurt, for which we thanked God!  "For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone," Psalms 91:11, 12.

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