Greetings from Austin Street

Happy, happy Saturday!  All is well here at 811. It has been such a wonderful day.  We began the day with team worship  at the Via deCristo meeting.  Bruce and I then had lunch at Macaroni Grill in vista Ridge while on our way to our niece’s wedding. I share this with you because it has been at least seven years since we have eaten at a Macaroni Grill. For several years it was where I always liked to celebrate my birthday as it was my favorite restaurant.  Each year the gift I received from Casey was his singing to me Happy birthday in Italian.  His beautiful tenor voice rang throughout the restaurant causing the restaurant to come to silence. But today found us there having a wonderful lunch and sharing one more wonderful memory.  More memories were made as Asenath Helvey and Trent Yarborough were married in the presence of God, family and friends at Trinity Presbyterian Church in McKinney, Texas this afternoon.  It was such a beautiful service and a great party/reception afterward. I teased Ken that in honor of having 4 daughters he needs to add to his title of Dr. Ken Helvey PhD. Edu, the initials FOB; Father of the Bride!  He laughingly agreed.

The candle is lit…

This afternoon there were two candelabras that adorned the front of the sanctuary even though all of the lights were on in the sanctuary for the 2:00 wedding. As I watched these two wonderful young people pledge themselves and their love to each other in front of God and a great cloud of witnesses I thought about light. With all of the light in the room and the mid afternoon sun assisting the brightness of the room I was reminded of the Lutheran confession that begins, “Almighty God to who all hearts are open and from whom no secrets are hid…”  The light that was present in the sanctuary today both natural and man made was  representative of the light of God’s love offering hope and the promise of a bright new day and a new life for this precious new family.

The light of God’s love takes away the darkness from our hearts and dispels the weight of fear and discouragement we may be carrying around. The light of God is not to be feared for when we stand in the light of God’s perfect love we live in total safety and complete contentment. The failures of our past grow dim allowing us to see ourselves as God sees us; a new creation in each new day, forgiven and ready to begin again. Today we were blessed to see a new family formed before our eyes as Asenath’s daughter Holly was part of the service and the two becoming one, became three in the love of God. What greater joy can there be than to be a part of God’s good creation taking place before our eyes.  Please pray for this new family and keep them in the center of God’s love.

“The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us.”

Psalm 118: 27

Take joy in the journey praying as you go and welcoming the light of God’s love.  Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep. We love you all, Bruce and Gaylene