His Good and Perfect Gift ~ Johnny and Brittany's Engagement Story

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

~ Ephesians 3:20-21 ~

Ten months ago marked the visible beginning of one of the most amazing things that will ever happen in my life.  That was a courtship with Johnny Ingalls.  But the Lord was working out details quite a while before that.

I and my family have prayed for years, asking the Lord to send the godly man into our lives that He intends me to be a helpmeet to, and praying for that young man, even though I never knew his name.

We met Johnny when we started attending church full time at Collins Road Baptist Church in the fall of 2014, but it wasn't until 2015 that we started getting to know him.  We talked with him at church and he came to our home several times.  He expressed interest to Dad in possibly courting me.  After a good bit of talking with Dad, and some conversations between us at church, I felt fearful of possible differences between us and didn't have a peace about beginning a courtship with him.  That was in May of 2016.

After that we still talked with Johnny at church, and were beginning to get to know him pretty well, but it was free of any expectations of anything more transpiring.  During this time however, the Lord began to open my eyes to take more notice of this young man.  I began to see more of his exceptional character, his true love and sincerity towards the Lord, his humility, and his honorableness.  I came to see and appreciate very much that I could actually have an encouraging spiritual conversation with him, truly focused on the Lord.  It only took a few months before I began feeling very sorry that I hadn't wanted to court this young man.  He was amazing!  I had never seen another young man like him!  What had I done!?!

At that point I began praying.  And Mom and Dad were praying too.  They had been observing Johnny more as well during those months, and were thinking the same way I was about him.  So we committed it to the Lord, and asked Him to send Johnny back if he was the right one.  I was praying very specifically during that time.  I was praying that the Lord would send Johnny back only if he was the right man for me, and that He would only send the young man to court me who He intended me to marry.  It seemed like a bold prayer, almost too much to ask.  How would Johnny ever know that I had had a change of thought towards him?  I was determined not to indicate it in any way to him, so that he would only come back if the Lord placed those thoughts in his mind.  So, I was asking, requesting from my heavenly Father what felt to me nearly impossible.

Little did I know until later that Johnny had been thinking and praying about me as well.  The more he observed me the more he felt like I was the right girl for him.

On January first, 2017 Johnny asked to talk with Dad after church.  He wanted to know if there was any possibility at all of courting me.  Dad, Mom, and I talked on our way home from church about it.  We all knew that the answer was yes.  We had been praying for this.  We knew that this was from the Lord, and we all had a complete peace about it.  So, Dad called Johnny and said that we could begin a courtship.  He had that Monday off, so he came to our house and we began talking.  There were just a few things we knew we needed to talk about and make sure we were on the same page, that we really believed the same things about, and we were relieved after talking through them all that first day that we really were on the same page on all the important things.

We spent the next two weeks talking very seriously about what we believe and what is important to each of us.  After those two weeks Dad and Mom and Johnny and I sat down and decided that we had discussed everything that was necessary and important and that we were free to begin developing a friendship.

The months that followed of developing a true friendship went very well.  We found friendship and really connected because of our similar hearts spiritually and in many tastes and preferences.  Our friendship was moving along so well that on May 27th Johnny told me that he loved me, and I told him that I loved him too.

Our relationship continued to blossom over next couple of months, and then, on August 2nd, with Dad's permission, Johnny asked me to marry him.

Johnny came over for dinner that evening, and after the meal he and I and Breanna and Mark went to a beautiful little place about twenty minutes from our house.  Johnny and I walked up on the walk way overlooking the river.  He got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him.  I said yes, and he gave me the most beautiful ring I've ever seen that he picked out for me.  We smiled, I cried, we laughed, we talked.  We stood there, just amazed at all the Lord had done.

And we still stand amazed, at how our Lord and Father has and is working out all the details.  Details that we could have never known.  He had been preparing us for each other long ago.  He orchestrated every circumstance to bring us together.  And now, after all those years of waiting, He has brought about what He intended.  And it was well worth waiting for.

It's easy to lose perspective short term, but we are told in the Word: "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.  Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1,8).  Will we trust Him, even when we can't see the end of the road, or even what's around the next bend?  Or when we don't understand things that happen in our lives?  Will we trust that it is all part of His beautiful, perfect plan?

A verse that I have clung to for several years has been, "Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:16-17).  By the Lord's grace, I have sought to wait patiently and to trust Him to bring the right young man at the right time, knowing that when He did, it would be exactly what it was suppose to be.  And now I can see clearly that the Lord has brought my good and perfect gift into my life in Johnny.  He is not perfect, and neither am I, but I am so thankful that together we are able to seek to walk faithfully with the Lord, to obey Him and to love Him, and that we can be an encouragement to each other in walking through this life for His glory and honor, as we are both recipients of His grace and love.

"This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."

~ Psalm 118:23 ~

~Brittany

Think of Your Life as a Story That is Being Written

Written by: Breanna

Have you ever read a biography about a godly person from the past and been half way through it to find yourself almost just holding your breath in amazement because it seems like this person’s life is falling apart and makes no sense, but you keep on reading with anticipation waiting for and knowing that all of the pieces come together by the time it ends? 

Such is your life, my friend, and mine.  Only we’re only part way through the story, only able to see part of the picture.  We’re still in the middle….perhaps living with anticipation of unfolding dreams, or perhaps in the midst of a heart-rending situation that seems nearly impossible to see how this can be a good thing and how it will turn out right. 

But there is One who sees the big picture…God.  Not only does He already know how the story is going to end, but He has ordained your story.  He has already written your story, and He’s unfolding it in your life. 

And let me tell you something so comforting and exciting- your story is an awesome one that is beautiful!

You may be thinking, “It sure doesn’t feel awesome or beautiful right now!” and that may be true.  But think of the big picture, the end of the story.  By the time you read the last sentence on the last page of the book, you understand how each piece fit together to bring about this amazing story.  The same will be true in your life.

God is bringing about each situation, each heartache, each anticipation, everything…He is the One that is bringing it about in your life as He writes on the pages of your biography.  And He delights in the plans that He has for us! 

My friend, are we willing to allow God to write His story for our lives?  Can we open ourselves up in faith before Him and from the heart say, “Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still”? 

Is it always easy?  No!  Sometimes it hurts so bad we don’t know if the sunshine will ever come out again, if the tears will cease to flow, and we question how this is ever going to turn out well.  But God has promised that He works all things together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.  The Scriptures say that there is a blessing for the one who remains steadfast during trial.  Why?  Because they come out shining, with a story that gives the Lord Jesus Christ glory and honor and brings us to delight in Him and draws us to love Him more and more!  Do you pray for conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ?  You should.  Then don’t be surprised when He is at work in your life with the chisel and hammer! Though God has promised to bless the righteous, and that He has plans for our welfare and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope, He has also promised that He will, “refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.” That’s not a pain free process, but one that is well worth it.  And He has promised us the comfort and strength to go through it. Believe in all of those promises and don't buy into the lies that tell us that He's not working or fulfilling His promises in our lives.  Because He is and He is faithful and does not lie.  It's just that He's often not doing it the way you think He should be or how you expected Him to.  The moment you surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, you surrendered to Him as your Lord and Master.  You are no longer your own.  Therefore, because He loves us and wants to get the glory in lives, He will write our story as He sees fit and it will be one marvelous work of art when it is finished and the Author will be magnified for His skill and work. 

Believe Him and trust Him! Say with me along with the father of the demon possessed son who first cried out to the Lord Jesus in this manner, “I believe; help my unbelief!”