Face to Face

Casdok, aka Mother of Shrek, has created a new blog. Faces of Autism is an online photo gallery celebrating individuals on the autism spectrum. Check it out and add yourself, your loved one, or look for Reid! He is indeed, impossible to capture in just one photo but the one I picked does lay claim to his gregarious sociability with strangers and exuberant joy. He loves music and loves the Lord, so that day at the House of Blues' Gospel Brunch put him in his element. No qualms at all about posing with those buxom ladies! Or joining them up on stage for that matter--next time.

Casdok's ever positive and constructive outlook reminds me of the verse Jim and I chose 22 years ago as a reading in our wedding. It is the origin of all positive thinking, self-help strategies that have followed.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:7-9

The practice of this verse has followed us through life by necessity. It is both fascinating and faith-building to realize how that has happened. We chose the verse at 20-something, completely naive of what particular trials and tribulations would become our life's journey. As if prophesying the twists and turns that would characterize our future, the verse has become a mantra for the ride. God, not limited by time or space, saw fit to give us confirmation and a comforting sense of destiny as we look in hindsight at what we stood for, signed up for, and in fact, what he had in store for us, as a partnership and then as a family. What we could never have anticipated, He knew. And He found a way to speak it to us through His Word in the present then, just as easily as if He had told us, "This verse will come to define you..." or "You're going to need this one." Or "Listen up, I'll give you a little hint."

Here's another example. When attempting to adopt, Jim and I wrote a sort of resume, as was protocol, about us as potential parents. We sent it to hundreds to make our desire known and hopefully meet potential birthmothers. At the bottom of that letter, we added this hopeful verse: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...to him be glory...for ever and ever!" Ephesians 3:19-21

Well....lo and behold, that verse came true literally, when we matched with a birthmother who was expecting twins! He had indeed, done immeasurably more than we had asked! Our thrill at getting the ultimate twofer--a boy and a girl--fueled an adrenaline rush that lasted at least 48 months. That was way beyond our wildest dreams and more than we would ever have dared to even utter aloud. God must have had a little chuckle, when we were printing those cover letters, knowing as He does, all that has ever come before and will ever come to pass.

Do you have a life verse? Is there a verse that follows you in a good or bad way? If not, claim one and see how God will use it in your life.


My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. Psalm 27:7-9


Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13


The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you...Numbers 6:24-26