Thank you, dear friends and well-wishers, for the birthday cards, prophecies, prayers, wishes, greetings, offlines, and Happy Birthday songs. You made it very special. I know it was due to your prayers and fun expressions of congratulations that made it as great as it was.
I'll add this just for fun. It seems like the Lord really likes working the weather to suit my fancy, or at least He likes showing me His love through it. Maybe you all already read a testimony I sent to the Grapevine about one such incident. I'll include it here to refresh:
"Hubby, Could You Turn Up the Heat?"
By Maria Dutch, Brazil
It was my rest day and I had gone out to meet my mother for Mother's Day at the usually hot Rio beachside. I was a bit disappointed that the day was rather cold. The sun was covered by clouds and a chilly wind blew. I warmed myself as best I could with my jean jacket. I had an hour to wait so I was hoping to get some extra Word time in as I enjoyed the beach, but it wasn't working. The cold kept me from being able to concentrate and I began to wonder if I should have met up with my mother someplace else.
Then the thought occurred to me. I am Jesus' wife! Am I not entitled to some special privileges? So I prayed, "Jesus, I know that everyone in Rio has probably asked You for a sunny day to get their Sunday tan, and yet You chose to make it cold for some reason. But with all the talk lately about how being Your bride affords me greater privileges, I wondered if You would like to somehow warm me up." I laughed at the thought until I heard the distinct voice in my heart:
Take off your jacket.
No, I reasoned. First You warm me up, and then I'll take off my jacket. I'm freezing here!
He repeated again: Take off your jacket first.
I was cold, but I remembered how the Lord usually rewards our faith after we do the "wenting." I slowly took off my jacket with mixed feelings of reluctance and expectation, bracing myself for what would come next.
Having just done that, I noticed a warm breeze replacing the previous chill and seconds later the sun began to shine brightly resulting in a very warm day. I met up with my mom and couldn't think of putting the jacket on for the rest of the day as it was so warm!
It goes to show how the Lord is willing to do not only the great and mighty miracles for us, His brides, but also the special little things that a husband would do for his wife just to show how important she is to him--even when it means shifting the elements.
To add a little more background, I am the kind of person that is affected by the weather, I love thunderstorms and extreme changes in weather. The light piercing through the clouds after the rain, the clear blue sky, the warm setting sun, sudden gusts of strong wind. These are exciting and have a particular affect on me.
Back to the birthday: when praying about my birthday I told the Lord that I just wanted a simple calm birthday. I didn't need anything extremely special, all I wanted was that He do those little things that He knows make the difference for me. He's such a sweetie and I knew He wanted to do something nice.
When I was done a thought popped into my mind. How would you like the weather to be?
Well, I thought, I'd like to feel cozy and nice, and hot sticky weather like the last couple days wouldn't work for that, so if I were to choose, I'd say cool and fresh, maybe with some rain at the end of the day if it's not too much trouble.
The day went on as usual when the first little present came in the form of a gift and a note from someone I never expected to get a gift from. A nice bottle of fine cabernet suavignon Chilean wine. Now, it might seem like no big deal for you, but I just LOVE good wine - it's a sure bet with me.
The whole day the weather stayed fresh and cool all day, and wonder of wonders - the rain fell through the evening lending to a perfectly cozy setting.
The funny part comes when the evening was wearing on and I realized that today, the next day, we were going to have a barbecue and special Home day - plus Ang, our new mother, was worried about a water inflitration problem in her room. I quickly shot up a prayer, thanking the Lord for the sweet token, and asking Him if it would be ok for the rain to stop soon in case infiltration gets worse and so that we can entertain ourselves fully the next day. Well, I needn't say the rest. Today the rain has stopped and the sun is peeking out every now and then. Perfect weather! Not to cold or hot. We're having a blast!
Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts
20.5.07
Birthday Specials
Thank you, dear friends and well-wishers, for the birthday cards, prophecies, prayers, wishes, greetings, offlines, and Happy Birthday songs. You made it very special. I know it was due to your prayers and fun expressions of congratulations that made it as great as it was.
I'll add this just for fun. It seems like the Lord really likes working the weather to suit my fancy, or at least He likes showing me His love through it. Maybe you all already read a testimony I sent to the Grapevine about one such incident. I'll include it here to refresh:
"Hubby, Could You Turn Up the Heat?"
By Maria Dutch, Brazil
It was my rest day and I had gone out to meet my mother for Mother's Day at the usually hot Rio beachside. I was a bit disappointed that the day was rather cold. The sun was covered by clouds and a chilly wind blew. I warmed myself as best I could with my jean jacket. I had an hour to wait so I was hoping to get some extra Word time in as I enjoyed the beach, but it wasn't working. The cold kept me from being able to concentrate and I began to wonder if I should have met up with my mother someplace else.
Then the thought occurred to me. I am Jesus' wife! Am I not entitled to some special privileges? So I prayed, "Jesus, I know that everyone in Rio has probably asked You for a sunny day to get their Sunday tan, and yet You chose to make it cold for some reason. But with all the talk lately about how being Your bride affords me greater privileges, I wondered if You would like to somehow warm me up." I laughed at the thought until I heard the distinct voice in my heart:
Take off your jacket.
No, I reasoned. First You warm me up, and then I'll take off my jacket. I'm freezing here!
He repeated again: Take off your jacket first.
I was cold, but I remembered how the Lord usually rewards our faith after we do the "wenting." I slowly took off my jacket with mixed feelings of reluctance and expectation, bracing myself for what would come next.
Having just done that, I noticed a warm breeze replacing the previous chill and seconds later the sun began to shine brightly resulting in a very warm day. I met up with my mom and couldn't think of putting the jacket on for the rest of the day as it was so warm!
It goes to show how the Lord is willing to do not only the great and mighty miracles for us, His brides, but also the special little things that a husband would do for his wife just to show how important she is to him--even when it means shifting the elements.
To add a little more background, I am the kind of person that is affected by the weather, I love thunderstorms and extreme changes in weather. The light piercing through the clouds after the rain, the clear blue sky, the warm setting sun, sudden gusts of strong wind. These are exciting and have a particular affect on me.
Back to the birthday: when praying about my birthday I told the Lord that I just wanted a simple calm birthday. I didn't need anything extremely special, all I wanted was that He do those little things that He knows make the difference for me. He's such a sweetie and I knew He wanted to do something nice.
When I was done a thought popped into my mind. How would you like the weather to be?
Well, I thought, I'd like to feel cozy and nice, and hot sticky weather like the last couple days wouldn't work for that, so if I were to choose, I'd say cool and fresh, maybe with some rain at the end of the day if it's not too much trouble.
The day went on as usual when the first little present came in the form of a gift and a note from someone I never expected to get a gift from. A nice bottle of fine cabernet suavignon Chilean wine. Now, it might seem like no big deal for you, but I just LOVE good wine - it's a sure bet with me.
The whole day the weather stayed fresh and cool all day, and wonder of wonders - the rain fell through the evening lending to a perfectly cozy setting.
The funny part comes when the evening was wearing on and I realized that today, the next day, we were going to have a barbecue and special Home day - plus Ang, our new mother, was worried about a water inflitration problem in her room. I quickly shot up a prayer, thanking the Lord for the sweet token, and asking Him if it would be ok for the rain to stop soon in case infiltration gets worse and so that we can entertain ourselves fully the next day. Well, I needn't say the rest. Today the rain has stopped and the sun is peeking out every now and then. Perfect weather! Not to cold or hot. We're having a blast!
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