The next day we went to Church together, and the sermon couldn’t have been more encouraging to us or more appropriate because Pastor Mike spoke about waiting on God and allowing Him to speak to us. He said that God likes to feel special. When we set aside special time for Him in our daily lives, He takes pleasure in us. It causes Him to pour out His favor on us. We have a presence and easiness about our lives that makes people around us desire what we have. We cheat ourselves when we pass up an opportunity to speak with the Master and Lover of our souls daily. After Pastor Mike finished his sermon, he looked over at me and asked me to sing a song. I stood up and said, “Of course I will.” I reached into my pocket and asked one of the ushers to give the music track to Sam in the sound booth. While waiting for the music to begin, I looked over at Jimmie Sue and said to the congregation that I would like to introduce my finance to them. Jimmie Sue stood up; and, with a big smile on her face, waved at everyone. The music started, and I told the congregation that this was a new song I had been practicing and that it was appropriate after this wonderful sermon. It is called God’s Wonderful Love! When I opened my mouth, I felt a greater anointing that came on me. The Words wrapped around me as I sung it, as if it was written just for me. “When I found Jesus, I found the greatest love. It is deeper than the ocean, higher than the sky above. He daily assures me I am in His heart, His sweet and warm embrace assuring me that I am His. That Wonderful Love, that wonderful love, forever mine, it is called Gods wonderful love. He is bringing me to places I never thought, because of who I was, so ashamed in my sin. But when I prayed with all my heart, He heard me, and my sin did part. In that moment I fell to my knees, I wept with such sigh of relief. My soul I offered completely. He poured forth His oil, and wine, giving me strength I haven’t felt before. That wonderful love, yes that wonderful love, it is called God’s wonderful love. Oh, what a joy and peace that possessed me, because He set me free. That Wonderful Love, yes, that Wonderful Love. Keeps me ever in your arms, and let me never forget what Jesus has done in His Wonderful, Wonderful, Love, forever mine, That Wonderful Love.”
When the song finished, Pastor Mike took the microphone and encouraged people who felt the touch of God during that song to come forward and ask God for the desires of their hearts. It may be just a closer walk with Him. Pastor Mike stepped down off the stage and grabbed Kate’s hand declaring he was going to get in on the anointing that had manifested so strong. I came down off the platform, and Jimmie Sue grabbed my hand as we went forward together. We began to ask God to make our lives and soon marriage to be just like the words to that song – that we would be one and always honor Him and never forget this day. We held each other and wept. Many wept as prayers went up all over the auditorium. It was a wonderful time of renewal and visitation from the Lord. No one was in a hurry to leave Church that morning. It appeared that people were going to each other and asking forgiveness. Couples I knew that were having a rough time were at the altar holding each other and weeping. It was a sight to see. I could but only thank the Lord again for His wonderful timing and for this new song that brought God’s presence to heal and renew in only the way He does. His timing was so perfect. As Pastor Mike dismissed, he commented on how thrilled he was, because it seemed that Chip’s song had allowed more of His grace to work among the people, in combination with the message, to help many find their way to renewing their relationships. Thanking Chip for that timely song, he gave his final dismissal.
The congregation began to disburse. I scanned the group of people that were talking and shaking hands, hoping to spot Rob and Beth. All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard the shouts from two little girls bellowing out my name. I grabbed them and hugged them, and I received so many kisses I told them I was surely going to take some home for later. They giggled and scolded me all at the same time, asking me, “Where have you been, Uncle Chip?” I told them it was a long story, but I have someone I wanted them to meet. Jimmie Sue stepped in a little closer; and before Chip had time to say anything, she introduced herself with her hand extended to the girls. The girls looked at Chip straight in the eye and said, “Is Jimmie Sue the reason you haven’t come to see us?” Oh, no girls, Chip quickly replied. I have had a whole bunch of stuff to do; and, did your daddy tell you one of my friends was in a terrible car accident? “Yes”, said the oldest, “I am sorry that happened, Uncle Chip.” “Me too”, I said, “It was pretty bad; but, thank the Lord, she is doing much better.” At that moment, their daddy’s voice came into the conversation. “You girls let me and your mom visit with Chip for a few minutes.” The girls answered their dad and mom with a squeal and a giggle, as they planted a big kiss on each side of Chip’s cheeks. When they were planted back on the floor, they said bye to Jimmie Sue and fled down the isle of the Church in a full run. Beth looked at Rob, and he clapped his hands to get their attention and shushed them.
Beth: I am so glad to finally meet you Jimmie Sue and hope we can get together soon.
Jimmie Sue: I have felt the same way. Chip talks about you guys all the time. I feel like I already know you both. I just needed to put a face with the names.
Rob interrupted the conversation with Chip and extended an invitation to go have pizza with them. Chip looked at Jimmie Sue, and she immediately shook her head up and down and said, “It sounds like a good plan to me.”
Rob called the girls, “Sarah, Faith, come. We are going to have some pizza with Uncle Chip and Jimmie Sue.” The girls squealed with delight again, as Rob had a wry look on his face while commenting to Beth about how noisier they have become lately. During lunch, Chip couldn’t help but smile as he observed how Jimmie Sue and Beth chatted, as if they had known each other forever. Rob noticed as well and looked at me and gestured with a wink. Rob finally decided to get the girls home and let them loose in the backyard to burn off some of their energy, with Beth agreeing. “It was a delightful afternoon.” Chip said as they headed out of the Pizza Parlor to get to their cars. The girls ran to Chip and hugged him and kissed him so much, until Jimmie Sue laughed and said, “Hey, I would like a hug too.” The girls looked at her with a surprised look as Chip coached them toward her. Reluctantly, they gave her a quick hug and ran to get in the car. Waving, they left and headed out as Jimmie Sue chattered a mile a minute. I laughed and she said, “What? What are you laughing about?” “Nothing”, I said, as she jabbed me in the ribs. “Nothing indeed!” she remarked.
Chip: “I was just thinking how well you and Beth got along, and I am so happy about that.”
Jimmie Sue: “She is a wonderful person, and I hope we can become good friends like you and Rob.”
Chip: “I have no doubt about that. I always thought you would get along well… Oh my, I forgot to ask Beth whether she knew someone to take your job at Jerry’s.”
Jimmie Sue: “I am a mile ahead of you.”
Chip: “Really? What do you mean?”
Jimmie Sue: “I was telling her about how I had to cut back on work because of my crazy schedule. I told her that my boss Jerry would have to hire someone to take my place, and I asked her if she may know someone. She said with a surprised look on her face that her younger sister Janet had just lost her job at the drugstore and needed to get a job quick. She said she just bought a car with no knowledge of the store cutting back employees. She knew customers had dropped off due to a new Drug Mart going in on the same street, but she didn’t think it was that bad for them to let her go. Beth assured me she or Rob would call and let us know one way or the other if Janet would be interested.”
Jimmy Sue wasn’t ready to go home yet so we ended up at my house having coffee and sharing about the Church Services, the girls, and how they reacted to Chip. It wasn’t but a couple of hours later, Rob called and told him that Janet definitely wanted the job and to tell Jimmie Sue she could start anytime. In fact, she said the sooner the better.
Chip: “I will tell her now because she’s here with me.”
Rob: “Ok, I will let you go so you can finish your conversation and kisses.”
I laughed out loud while telling Rob that I was being a real gentleman. “Am I not, Jimmie Sue?” I asked. She shouted, “Absolutely! And let Rob know that I will be at the restaurant tomorrow at 10:00 if Janet wants to come in and meet Jerry; in fact, I’ll start her training too if she is up for it.”
Rob: “Why don’t you give me your phone number, and I will have her call you.”
I just handed the phone to Jimmie Sue and gave Rob her phone number and told him how happy she would be to turn this job over to Janet if it worked out. She told him that Jerry was a great person to work for. Rob relayed to Jimmie Sue that Janet would be great for the job – that is if she likes waitressing, because she is a people person. Jimmie Sue said to Rob that she felt good about her and told him she was handing the phone back to Chip.
Chip: “Hey, Rob, while I have you on the phone, I wanted to inquire about the classes Pastor Mike and his wife Kate are having on the Love of God. I am so far behind on the meetings, even though I studied the scriptures on love, do you think I should start attending now. Will he just continue the classes, or will he start the classes over at some point for beginners?”
Rob: “Oh, Chip, they are on Friday nights at 7:00, and as far as I know he is going to continue teaching on Love until the Lord tells him to stop, which I do not see happening any time soon. So you just start attending and the Lord will catch you up, I am sure of it.”
Chip: “Alright then, that is good to hear. I was praying about it after our talk; and, like I said, I even studied the scriptures you gave me, and I feel that it is a must for me to attend. I would like to ask this girl to come with me.”
I looked at Jimmie Sue with a wink.
Chip: “Are the meetings open to anyone, even though they do not attend our church?”
Rob: “Absolutely, Chip! And yes, Pastor Mike has been encouraging us to bring anyone we know that could use these teachings. In fact, Kate just invited our neighbors, and they agreed to come.”
Rob: “Things are getting pretty exciting because Pastor Mike said they are going to have workshops for the ladies and then for the men, on dating, marriage, and on what to do and what not to do in a relationship. Then they are going to have a big New Year’s Party for all those who attended. Pastor Mike told the single guys that this will be an opportunity to get dressed up and mingle with some of the single women. He said, there will be dancing and planned surprises, (not sure what he meant by surprises), but I am sure it will be good. They also are having food catered in from Harold’s Fine Dining. He also said this will give our married couples a chance to spend time together and give us a clue that we still need to date our wives. He said, “Just because you are married doesn’t mean you stop dating.” I think Pastor Mike is onto something here, because so many of our brothers and sisters need to strengthen their marriages.
Chip: “Well I am more excited about it now than ever. Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner, and I am going to have to do some shopping for my parents and also prepare for their arrival? And plus shop for a couple special, little girls and this special girl sitting beside me.”
Rob: “I need to get busy too for I still have some shopping to do.” – As he winked at Beth.
Chip: “I want to visit with my girl, so let’s talk later.”
Chip ended the call and hung up the phone.