Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Bible Bites: From Beginning to End, God is with Us

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Do you like appetizers? My husband and I do! Some evenings, instead of a nice meal with meat and veggies, we will throw together some of our favorite appetizers. Small bites that are so scrumptious, they satisfy our hunger.

Scripture has appetizers, too! It’s those small connections you see that make you go “Ahhh, that’s beautiful. I’ve never noticed that before.”

I call these scriptural appetizers Bible Bites. Here’s one I saw recently that I’d like to share with you.

While I was reading and studying Leviticus (yes, I did. I read Leviticus. It was not part of a One Year Bible Reading Plan. I CHOSE to read and study it! Call me crazy!) I saw two verses that seemed familiar to me.  

“Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Leviticus 26:11-12, NASB

I know this verse, but it certainly wasn’t from reading Leviticus so often! Where have I seen it before?

After some digging and searching, I found it. And it’s from an equally challenging chapter of scripture: Revelation.

  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them” Revelation 21:3, NASB

What a beautiful picture it painted:

God is with us from beginning to end. From the garden to the grave and beyond. He always walks with us. We are His people, and He is our God.

Isn’t that glorious? Such a small bite of scripture, but oh, so satisfying! A little nugget of truth to carry with us and chew (meditate) on throughout the day.

Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 CSB

Grace be with you,

Thirty Years Strong: Anniversary Stories

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This month marks thirty years—count ‘em, THIRTY YEARS—that John and I have been married.  Who woulda thunk it? Last week, I regaled you with stories of our wedding and honeymoon. This year, I’ll share an anniversary story or two! I hope you enjoy them as much as I love telling them.

Wedding bells rang for us on May 25, 1996. ALMOST six months after the wedding (November 12, 1996), I emailed John to tell him I had a little surprise to give him for our six-month anniversary (World’s Finest Chocolate candy bar WITH almonds. He loves them!).

John told his co-worker, “Ellen has a present for me. Today is our six-month anniversary!” 

“I thought y’all got married at the end of the month—like around Memorial Day?” 

“You’re right! We got married on the 25th of May…” 

Back at my job, I’m in ignorant bliss. I can’t wait to get home and give my new hubby his present. I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself. That’s why I had to e-mail him. I wanted him to know I thought about him on our first milestone. I mean, six months, what an accomplishment!

At 5:30 that afternoon, I walked through the door of our home, candy bar hidden behind my back. I was grinning from ear to ear. Then I saw John’s face. In that instant, I realized what I had done. I messed up BIG TIME! I got the day confused with my ex-anniversary date (12th versus 25th)! OH NO! Was my face red! But he forgave me and ate his candy bar anyway.

On our first anniversary, I received a beautiful bouquet at work. I opened the card, anticipating a sentimental message from my sweet man. The card read “Thank you for the best 12 years of my life! Love, John” 

12 YEARS?!?! How about 12 MONTHS!!!

Oops! The florist messed up the message…or was it payback for the six-month anniversary fiasco on the 12th of November?!?

With that not-so-stellar beginning to our marriage, some people may have thought we would never make it thirty years. Praise God, we did!

Overall, it’s been a wonderful and fun three decades. Yes, we’ve had some bumps in the road, but we didn’t let them drag us down. The most important thing we have done for our marriage is to place Jesus Christ at the center. Has this been easy? Are we perfect at this? No, but with God’s grace, we persevere. 

 I was thinking about our years together last week. I wept with joy, so thankful for the man God brought into my life to be my forever husband. Scripture tells us to remember the things God has done for us. I am remembering today that He placed a wonderful man in my life, to be my husband, to have and to hold until death do us part.

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm  126:3 NIV

Happy 30 years, John Chauvin!