A few days ago Jonathan and Laurie’s celebrated the first anniversary of their wedding, which was on March 28, 2007. Time has passed much too quickly the past three years–but the past three years have been wonderful demonstrations of what God can do as we do or do not trust Him.
I remember reading the one chapter book of Jude about the time of their anniversary. The benediction or doxology is often said in churches. I felt it very much described our lives in the past three years and one week (as of March 28) since our middle child, Amy Elizabeth, fell asleep on this earth and her spirit woke up in the arms of Jesus. God got us through that rough time. We still grieve and miss Amy, but we know where she is and that she is eternally home where we know we also will be with Christ because of His glorious saving grace which changes our sins from red as scarlet to white as snow.
Our family has grown by a son and daughter since then. Kara married her lifetime only boyfriend, Tim Ellcey. Jonathan met and married the girl who answered his prayers as well as ours, Laurie Turner. We do not have a new son-in-law and a new daughter-in-law. We have a new son-in-love and a new daughter-in-love-plus all of our immediate families are one in Christ Jesus! Jude 24-25 is more than just a benediction. It is an affirmation of the wonderful grace and goodness of God, resulting in His “glory, majesty, power, and authority through Christ Jesus our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 24-25 (NIV)
Check it out! (double click on the reference) Jude 24 starts with “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy–(25) to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority through Christ Jesus our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 24-25 (NIV)
Not only does God deserve all the glory, majesty, power and authority, He is “the one who is able to keep” us “from falling and to present” us “his glorious presence without fault and great joy!” I do not know about you, but that will be quite an accomplishment for God in relation to me! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Amen!