This Is Dedicated To The One I Love

Ok... so I'm borrowing a line from the Shirelles song... you got a problem with that!? *grin*

I've been sitting up in my office tonight replaying some events of the last couple of days. I've had several "inspirational" moments that have been enjoyable and caused me deep thought... but I decided that those things are not what I want to write about tonight.

Instead I would like to tell you about a person whom I have the honor of calling my best friend... my wife, Ashley.

Tonight we attended a banquet for The House of Hope in Cedar Rapids. The House of Hope is a ministry that strives to help women learn about themselves as children of God. They deal with many issues that I know are near and dear to the hearts of many women (physical and mental health, relationships, mentoring, prayer life etc.).

Ashley got involved with The House of Hope a few years back. She was at a point in her life (we actually both were) where she was trying to break free from some things that she felt hindered her walk with God.

Let me just stop for a minute and tell you how proud of Ashley I was (and am) when she told me that she wanted to try to get free from some of these issues. She wanted to be a better mom, a better wife and most of all a better follower of Christ.

You see, Ashley and I have been on a kick for the past couple of years of trying to be real in our walk. Sometimes we do better than other days, but the point is that it is our sincere hope to actually be what we claim to be as a believer.

During Ashley's two years of taking classes and being involved in the lives of other women in the community, I can tell you without a doubt that I have seen a HUGE change. Its amazing thing when you get to watch a person who already had a beautiful heart change, grow and cling closer to God as their heart grows even more beautiful.

She'd be the first to tell you that she thinks she has a long way yet to go... but I'll be the first to tell you that we ALL do and I've seen incredible change already.

Let's fast forward to tonight. A few weeks back, the staff at the house asked Ashley if she'd be willing to share some of her testimony for a video that they wanted to show at the banquet. She agreed (if you know Ashley, this in itself was a big step in her breaking out from underneath some fears).

Needless to say, I saw the video tonight at the banquet and she did an awesome job. I leaned over and whispered in her ear after the video "wow!! I'm married to a movie star!!"

If you could see the ground that she has crossed in the last two years... witnessed the tears that fell... talked through the changes of heart and the increased desire to be a light into people's lives... I know that you would be as proud of her as I am.

I married an amazing woman. I couldn't be more proud of her... not because of the video, but because of all the things that she is laying before God's feet and allowing Him to truly speak into her life.

Yep, I married a star... one of God's own.

Jim