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| Rob and Tara at Christian Mingle Conference |
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Hello Family!
Are you ready for the dirt? hmm,hmmm? Ok, you shall have it!!!
Many people ask how Rob and I met, and I tend to cringe to have to tell it, as well frankly, not many think it a viable means of meeting somebody, but since half of my ministry is done in this form,I really do not think it so formidable...Rob and I met on the internet- (shocked?! Good!!!!)
It i is not as crazy as one would think I assure you, more and more Christians find it hard to meet one another in appropriate ways, seeing as we don't often frequent bars( and certainly don't likely wish to meet our spouse there!) and churches do not often see to the need of functions that support single people of faith,isn't that unfortunate..So we visit one another on Christian internet mediums, designed for dating fellow Christians.
Now then those are the particulars of how we were introduced and not actually how we met, as my wonderful husband showed a tolerance to me, I would have to say most men would have walked away from, and I will tell you why...
At the time I signed up for the Christian dating site I was still debating whether dating was even something I wanted to do- I have long felt a calling to ministry and really wanted nothing to interfere with that, but , figured it wasn't going to be a bad idea for me to have fellowship with other believers, both men and women by signing on to the site, and so I did. Robert hereafter known as Rj, was one of the gents who wrote me. I responded to him in kind, but, pretty well blew off any offers for dates from anyone who asked..This wasn't just because I was unsure , I had to know someone's character for quite some time before I would agree to see them, and so, Rj would make a comment like"You should meet me for coffee sometime"and my likely response would be, well I am busy this week, but we will see.... after several months of corespondense, it was rare that I dated someone, but on occasion I would meet them,have coffee, and usually that was the end of that. Rj however was persistent, I would say I am making lasagna my sisters tonight,and he would reply "I love lasagna!!!" and stinker that I was, would say,"Yeah mines very good to, well God bless..." and I would zip off before the next hint fell.
This happened day after day for months, we would talk for hours over our lives, and I saw so many commonalities, things that nudged at me to listen, but I am one stubborn girl, and I would set the poor boys advances back each time he tried, "What are you doing for breakfast, we could meet... oh you already have eaten breakfast? Well I can wait till lunch,plans with your sister huh?Well what you got going for dinner...oh hanging out with family,ok..." Then one day I was talking to Rj, and he was asking me to breakfast, and I was again excusing myself,then lunch,nope, and then he said what about coffee? we both love coffee? and as much as a I love coffee , the reaction was already forming on my lips, when God said, Go with him..what are you kidding Lord? I argued, I can almost hear the laugh in Gods voice..its Coffee, no harm in coffee. Ok, that was it, we met at a local Mcdonnald's because he didn't know his way around my town( even though he lived 20 minutes away) as I watched him get out of his car, hat tucked firmly on his head,and move towards me, I thought hmmm, pretty cute.(What like you never thought somebody was cute?)
I had to get a tire fixed, and he said lets take it drop it off, and we will go for coffee from there..I don't know what got into me, normally I would not trust anyone in so short of time, but Rj has this safe demeanor, the kind of guy you feel comfortable with instantly..so I am sitting in his car and notice that in his catch all, are three phones, one of which is pink, clearly not his..hmmmm,
Of course I popped off "The bodies that belong to these aren't in the trunk are they?"
Rj laughed, and explained what he did as a business, and that he fixed phones for friends when they got messed up...ok then.
We went to Coffee, nice little shop, downtown Marysville, loads of character, and it has a wonderful patio on the back away from the noisy crowd, we tucked behind in a private area, and sipped slowly as conversation unwound. I told Rj parts of my life I had not previously shared, events that happened that I had to go through since being divorced or even during..he wiggled in animation and his hands flung in the air, eyebrows lifted , hat tilted, well it was right there I got stuck on the boy..God knew, hmmm, he could have clued me in..but again, I am stubborn.
I asked Rj why he was so patient in waiting for me to date him, he could have dated any number of girls from the site far easier, and he said this...Because I knew, you were the one. I read your bio, saw your picture, and even though I dated other women, you were the one I was waiting for, wow! Months after we began seeing each other, (and by the way we never stopped seeing each other from that day on) I heard a story he shared with his sister, and here is how it went..he was on the internet chatting with me at his sisters house and she watched over his shoulder..She said," Rj, are you sure your up to somebody who has an illness after losing Jess to cancer?"and this was his reply"" I would rather know a few moments of happiness with her than to never have known her at all, besides who better for her than me? who can understand what's she's going through, and help her through it, I know what its like and I can help her..."
Its things like this that made me love this man, this wonderful, gentle,dear , kind, animated like a goofy cartoon,soul.
I am blessed to know this person, each and every day I thank God, and I thank Rj,he gets up in the pitch dark, drives an hr to work and an hr home,still finds time to play games, laugh and walk with me...He supports me in ministry 100% and is even trying to prepare a way that we can leave at a moments notice to go wherever I am called to go, he is ready to move where ever God says,go wherever he wishes us to go, and believes that this calling is important and further,compels me.
Thank you Lord, for divine appointments with coffee!!!! and for men who want a Godly wife!!
(Come now ,all you who know me, knew coffee would be involved here, isn't God Good? hee! Good to the last drop!!!!!)
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Jeffrey speaks candidly about his upbringing in a religious boot camp of sorts, He can make you chuckle at his Life's misadventures,or cry at his moments of contemplation.We join in on an email he forwarded to his friends and family,as he talks about his reconciliation with his Daddy...
(2006)
The emotional time I mentioned... hmmmmmm lets see where to begin ..
In quick short 7 months ago, I chatted with God . A very heavy heavy, heavy conversation. I asked him for a few things, all of which he gave me .This is some of his answer to my prayers, and how I came back to meeting him...
I have been prophesied over since I was a baby that I was meant to be " A chosen one" ... (Remember many are called unto the kingdom, but only a few are chosen ?) The mission being the delivery of the Kingdom of God to man. This was something I chose to run from since the age of 17, because of the Gifts he gave me, wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, tongues, healing, I have witnessed miracles personally & the Holy Spirits manifestation.which was not well received. I prayed religiously, for these gifts as a child, they would be greater than tonka trucks to me!
When I turned 17 on, I looked for excuses to not be a vessel for them , It began when the finger was pointed at me by people of the church who said they believed in these things, But not the child the Holy Spirit spoke through, ( **Discouragement often comes through the church in the form of doubt, or control, given by what ought to be our Spiritual mentors, and our encouragers,our Christian brothers and sisters.)
Oh I am pretty good at finding an excuse, In other words I am a GMWM ( God's most wanted man) I'm a runner, and have been, and can I run!! Just imagine the local sheriff chasing the town redneck across the ditches and cornfields just to stay in shape, God loves the redneck I was and am, very much.
Since the Lord and I both have humor, He chased me across Canada, where I began my jog away from Him. From the West to the East a good 4500 km run, and several years into my living in Quebec, He pursued.
Ya'd think He would have given up on me now, but I tell you He let me know when He was coming with bells, and whistles, and sirens,I think just for the thrill of the chase! I ( wonder what His footwear is? NIki? Reebok? Air Jordan?) I never let Him get close enough to actually see, waited on Him a few times to catch up,but hit the dirt hard running again whenever I was within his reach....
I Had been living a playboy lifestyle from that time out, drugs, money, and hanging out with motorcycle gangs, and doing what I wanted when I wanted, these things represented who I had become, Literally digging my way to hell, yet I still felt God pursuing...
Then one day about 7 months ago, He caught up, and I prayed to God to start the healing process, never dreaming of the power of His conviction, and the power of His love for me, never imagining truly falling in love with Him could or would be this powerful.
You see, it's something I can't control, for once, I am not in control, HE is, I have found a relationship with my Daddy.
It's like this, (Maybe you will understand from this perspective) ...
When I heard the words "Freeze,Gotcha!" Assume the Position,because He really is like the RCMP ( Police) they always get their man! LOL - I assumed the position of Surrender, Got on my knees, with my hands over my head and stretched towards the sky and heaven, saying "Don't shoot!! I surrender to You!!!!"
Now you can understand the emotional trip I have been on, what I am saying is- it's His Love, and Mercy. I have cried tears of conviction, joy, happiness. And this new thing to me, tears of Love! Something I never knew,or felt, it's all good,really it is! you'll see...The change is good! God knows, I am not quite perfect yet, I am a work in Progress!
P.S. Many people know this story, I am a bit like Jonah in that, when God told me all my life to do something, in the ministry-I rebelled. Jonah, didn't listen either, Thank goodness I haven't been bobbing at sea for all this time, literally in the belly of a whale,now that would have really sucked big time! LOL
**This Ongoing testimony begins the journey of a Prodigal Son return and spiritual relationship with God!**
Update:
Jeffery is now a happily married brother in Christ! Congratulations Jeff,and Lisa!! He and his wife are venturing into ministry and trusting God in each step they take, be blessed dear bro and sis!!!
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