OUR

After a few brief introductions, the groups, one from Mississippi Valley State University and one from Alcorn State University, got down to business.
Yet ... I looked at Mable and was in awe. We talked a little later on that evening and I found out she went to the prom stag. She didn't have a boyfriend and had never been on a date. She was a sophomore in college at the time. 'What was wrong with this picture?' I was thinking. But ... for me, I was not going to attempt to go steady with her. I was tired of getting shot down. I was determined to be sold-out completely to the Lord. Yet ... I wondered ...

The next day, one of the visiting ministers told us he was gonna show the group how trifling Satan really is. He called this young, outspoken preacher forward ... and called this lovely, virtuous woman to the front of the sanctuary and put them back to back.

"O.K., you are husband and wife," the minister told the two students. "Now, God has brought you two together, but Satan ..." and the minister put his hands together, pushed his fingers between the students backs and put them on opposite sides of the sanctuary.

"However, Satan will have you separated."

And ... the minister grabbed the preacher by his shirt and pulled the woman back to the preacher, putting them back in the same position when they had started.

"But, the Lord will bring you both back together."

I think I found that dramatization of love - separation - love was so awesome. Mable seemed to think it was so cool. In less than two minutes, before we actually KNEW we were meant for each other, the Lord showed both of us what we had in store for our lives. What was even crazier? Me and Mable were the two people the minister pulled from the group to perform the skit.

About 6 that evening, BSU had the coronation of the queen. When I saw Mable in her dress (pictured above), my mouth dropped. I was like 'She is so pretty!' but I didn't let that slow me from taking pictures (I was the 'official' BSU photographer). No doubt, I wanted to get to know her better, but ... I wondered. I was tired of rejection, so why risk it again?

Later that evening, after everyone was asleep, the director of the retreat, Demetrius Pittman, and I talked about matters of life. THEN, out of the blue, he asked me about dating and marriage. Oh boy. I didn't want to go there ... I immediately shot that down with - 'I am gonna be single a long time.' Demetrius kindly rebuked me and told me there was nothing wrong with wanting to be married. That was only the prelude ...

He looked at me and asked me ...

Who has the Lord put on your heart?

Now this was an easy one. NO ONE! and I muttered 'I dunno,' but what came out was MABLE! Oh yeah ... my mouth hit the floor because the Holy Spirit actually said it for me! Demetrius grinned and said 'Brother, what if Mable is sitting in her room talking about you right now?!'

I went to my room, wondering what had just went down. I mean, where did the word 'MABLE' come from? I mean, yeah, she's nice, yeah, she's very attractive, yeah, she's a good woman ... but ... Mable is the one the Lord has for me?! Not that I was upset ... but I was like 'I need to talk to the Lord about this one.'

So I fell on my knees and asked the Lord if she was the one to give me peace beyond all understanding. If not, hey, He has someone better in store for me. But ... I had to know!

Important piece of advice: If you are in the position to be married and are ready spiritually, financially and mentally and emotionally, go ahead and ask. If you haven't met the criteria listed above, think twice before you ask the Lord who your spouse is. You will see later on what I am talking about.

So, my prayer was something like this:

Lord, I praise You for being so awesome, so loving. And Lord, I have met a young woman who really loves You so very much. She is an awesome woman ... a virtuous woman and I need to know if this woman of God is the woman You prophesied to me. I need to know, Lord, if she is the woman You have for me. You know my heart's desire is to know who my wife is and I am asking in Your Holy Name if she is the one. If she is, please give me peace beyond all understanding. If she is not, I understand and I know You have someone better for me. I love You, I thank You for listening to my petition. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.'

The next morning, about 7:30, I woke up and got ready to get packed to head back to Alcorn. The Holy Spirit said 'Remember your prayer request?'

I had my answer ... actually, I had to be reminded of it! That showed me I had truly given this matter to the Lord.

If you are still wondering, I had my peace beyond all understanding. <-- Click "understanding" to continue.