Date night;

My wife and I try and get out on a date at least once a week; coffee, a nice dinner, what ever we can do to have some one-on-one time and re-energize our marriage! On most of our dates we run into people we know, usually end up praying for someone, counseling a marriage in trouble, but our last date took the cake. (By the way, men, date your wives)!

We started out at an Italian restaurant splitting a meal and enjoying a glass of wine. The couple at the table behind asked us what kind of wine we were drinking and it turned into a miracle… (The reason Jesus’ first miracle was turning the water into wine, is because He loves when His kids enjoy life, He didn’t want the party to end)! This couple looked familiar; they ended up being the parents of someone I went to high school with. Since retiring they have been looking for a mission’s project they could come around and support. Without knowing this, Lisa and I shared all about Swaziland, Africa, how we are trying to do a leadership training institute and serve the orphans of Africa. They exploded with excitement and want to introduce us to their network of over a hundred people that they want us to share our story with!

Then we drove over to a little restaurant were my wives favorite local talent was performing. I had him play
her favorite song, “Wonderful Tonight” Eric Clapton, and, although there was no dance floor, we moved some tables and danced! As we sat down an elderly women came over to our table and asked who we were. She said, “It is so wonderful to see you two together, you are so alive and in love” she told us that her husband and her were with their daughter and two young grand boys. The daughters husband had been killed by a 17 year old drunk driver a year ago and her and the boys were obviously hurting. This widow came over to my wife and their hearts just connected. Prayer, exchange of phone numbers and hope, that was what she needed.

Right as this finished, one of the waitresses was wiping down a table right next to ours and was sobbing uncontrollably. I asked her what was wrong, and with her eyes closed, she collapsed on our table and said. “My legs hurt so bad, I can’t go home to him, I can’t go on like this”! I immediately asked my wife to lay hands on her and prayed God’s presence over her life. My wife then held her, stroked her hair and just spoke God’s affections over her for about 10 minutes. The owner came by and I said I would take care of her tables if he needed me to. He just shook his head and did her work. We found out her boy friend was beating her and she was at the end.
  My wife offered her cell number again, this little girl felt the Lord for the first time!

We went home refreshed and amazed by the Lord. If you are in Africa, your local restaurant or your back yard, God wants to use to minister to your family, your friends and the world; go on a date tonight, or go hang out at the local bar, God may use you to save a life!