Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!

Well, I must brag a little on my stud of a husband. If you get queasy at mushy stuff, I would suggest moving along in the World Wide Web. Otherwise, let me just share a little something about Brandon's life from this weekend.

So, I've known Brandon for almost 2 years now (I know that's not very long, but I have the rest of our lives ahead of us) and I remember when we were dating people would ask me , 'has he played his violin for you yet?' and I felt pretty bad because he hadn't. I thought, 'why hasn't he?' When he finally did, it was on a dock at the lake I grew up on and it was immediately after he told me that he loved me. That was a really special night. He played beautifully, and though I knew I was already in love with him, too, I felt like I was falling in love with him all over again.

Tonight was one of those nights where I felt like I was falling in love with my husband all over again. Here we are in seminary, across the country, and doing ministry together. He's studying to be a pastor/preacher. I see him in ministry almost every day and I love it, but I haven't ever heard this man preach. The closest I've ever been was when we got commissioned off by his home church, and he had to share a little bit about the adventure we were about embark upon to California.

Saturday Night Redefined is a weekend service for the 'young at heart' (i.e. anywhere from children-teens-college-young adults-adults who 'feel' young), and Brandon was asked to preach tonight to kick off the month of February and a relationship series. So, he dilligently worked on a sermon this week, and in his BBerry way, was putting the finishing touches on it as we were parking the car outside the church...

I always get a little nervous before I have to speak in front of people...nothing big, just a little butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling. But I never thought about getting nervous before Brandon spoke until I started to get that same feeling in my stomach somewhere between the first worship song and the last. I was excited. I was proud. I was anxious to hear and watch him deliver God's word.

Now, don't get me wrong. The boy preaches all the time. Not in a condescending way, but if you could be a fly on the wall of our little apartment, you'd get an earful of sermons in his everyday conversations. I have heard him preach to me and have enjoyed getting excited with him in our living room or at our kitchen table about some of the things God has been laying on his heart. But that couldn't have prepared me for tonight...

Brandon's topic was 'Yokin' Up' and was based on 2 Corinthians 6:14 which warns us not to be unequally yoked to unbelievers. And can I say that my eyes got a little sweaty with the pride that swept over me as I watched my amazing husband be used by God in a mighty way as he preached with passion and fervor tonight in front of a couple of hundred of people. His anointing was so evident, and anyone could tell that he was prepared and also surrendered as he allowed God to speak through him to many hearts that made decisions to surrender to the overwhelming love of Christ.

The best part, though, is that I still recognized Brandon up there. He wasn't any different than the wonderful guy I live with and love doing life with everyday...he just had a mic. And he didn't have the mic because he had clawed his way to the top, but because he had served his way into that opportunity. He loved people so much and served them because of his love for Christ, that he was noticed and given that opportunity. (for more on this, see Make Room for the Broom from September entries).

So let me just champion my husband a little bit by saying that I am so proud of him and am even more excited about where God may take us one day with the gifts and opportunities and anointing He has put on him. Thank you, Jesus!

NB