This is an invitation to interdependence,
as two become one and all Glory goes to the Son.
Praise due not to us but to the lamb who cried it is done
– because of love.
Not an only for this season love,
or a he bought this for me type love,
not a we’re both from the barrio
or here’s the prenup type of love
but an excessive affection that sees future, present and retrospective.
Patient, kind, protective, common and elective,
ever pushing and pursuing ever drawing the same conclusion
that He is the ultimate bridegroom
who died for me and for you.
And though He couldn’t bend his knee
because of the nails in His feet,
he dropped His head and proposed –
will you marry me?
and today in this way
Miss Pan I humbly do the same
Will you marry me?
by the grace of God and the power of the holy spirit
to ask, pray an intercede,
fast, pray and intercede,
and follow me as I strive to follow Jesus and serve thee…
and she said YES!
Last Saturday afternoon around 2pm, I asked Priscilla Pan to be my wife with a good bunch of our friends and family hidden behind umbrellas in the park at Lincoln Cinemas between 62nd 63rd on Broadway. I had prayed for great weather and it was almost 70 degrees on Thanksgiving weekend in New York City. I had prayed for safe and quick travel for family and friends from Brodnax, Baltimore and Boston and everyone made it just in time. I had prayed for God’s favor just in case we were thought to be a “flash mob” and that worked out too! God answers our prayers.
I also prayed for patience and faith which meant there would be trials along the way because reconciliation between races, cultures, and generations is just plain hard. I asked God for discipline as I desired to be more like Jesus and be someone worthy of marriage. He answered that with hard conversations about my own pride, prejudice, selfishness and lack of generosity. I learned that what I do does not define my relationship with God, learned how to repent and forgive, and how to make hard decisions that don’t feel good but are Right in the eyesight of God.
God has shown me clearly that there are things I could not do without Priscilla and things that I could only accomplish with her. It is true that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine as the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians and Priscilla is evidence of that.
Brothers who read this post, I encourage you to follow Jesus in your present relationship or the one that is to come; because if you are to lead and you’re not following Him, you need to ask yourself “where am I going?
Sisters who read this post, I encourage you not to settle for a man who is not willing to put you before his work and not willing to put Jesus before you. The Gospel proclaims boldly that you are worth much more than what our culture tells you.
In February, I felt God calling me to a place (NYC), a people (those who want to help, those who need it), and a person, Priscilla Pan. I thank Him that He will allow these callings to be fulfilled in His time.
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