By Pastor Joel Lawler

God is in the business of making something beautiful out of what seems to be nothing.

I just enjoyed my fifteenth wedding anniversary. I knew that I had to do something special for my wife for putting up with me for that long. Several months ago, we walked by a shop and there was a wedding dress in the window. My wife stopped and looked at it. She told me that she really wished that she had her own dress. When we got married, we did not have much money so she borrowed a dress.

Her words stuck with me so I decided that for her anniversary present I would buy her a wedding dress. I knew that this was not something that I am knowledgeable about so I sought the advice of friends. They told me that it was a good idea but they also said that it would be sort of sad that she would not have an occasion to wear it. I decided to throw her a surprise new wedding so she could wear the dress.

I am not real good at planning events. It is not something that I do a whole lot. In fact, my wife is the planner. She usually puts the ideas together and she gives me a "to do" list to carry out her plans. I knew that I was in a bit over my head with this task. This was not going to be easy but I wanted her to have something special and memorable.

Our friends helped me tremendously. I had a pastor friend donate his church and also agree to do the ceremony. Our next door neighbors volunteered to do the music and supply the cake. Our friends drove down from Ohio and they said that they would help with the reception.
God came through in the love of our friends. They took my goofy idea and ran with it.

One of the details that I sweated the most was the dress fitting. In order to keep it a surprise, I had to guess as best I could in order to get her size right. Some wedding dress makers would not even make a dress unless they were able to take measurements. I found a store that sold dresses and bought the dress and it fit like it was made for her. It could not have been better.
We had friends, who at first could not make it, suddenly have changes of schedule that allowed them to be there. Most of my wife's best and closest friends were there.

It was far better than I could have ever expected. The location was a little country church in a small town called Fly. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was very lively. There were more kids there than adults so there was plenty of energy in the room. My wife loved the dress and really enjoyed seeing all her friends. It turned out to be a beautiful day. My four kids, my wife and I will never forget it. It will always be a precious memory to us.
God can and often does use things that are simple and makes them extraordinary.

His Son came to earth as a baby being born in a barn. This far greater example of how God takes something that seems so simple and makes something really beautiful from it. Who could have ever imagined the God who created everything being a baby laying in hay.

God takes joy in surprising us by doing only what He can. He loves to make something that may seem insignificant something unforgettable.

.