Shannon here: Mesu Andrews shares how she met her husband & how she met her savior, plus a chance to win an e-book copy of her Historical Romance title, By the Waters of Babylon. Deadline: Aug 4th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Mesu:
3 Things I Learned About the God of Romance by Mesu Andrews
My third-grade boyfriend gave me a Valentine’s Day heart box only half-full of chocolates. “Where’s the rest?” I said in a less-than-thankful tone. In typical Garden of Eden style, the boy blamed his accomplice. His new friend, Roy, had convinced him they could eat half the candy and spread the rest out to look like the box was still full.
I hated the new boy, Roy Andrews, for a long time after that.
The red-headed, freckle-faced boy grew into quite an athlete and became the class clown. He had a crush on my best friend, Joni, and I liked his best friend, Brian. The four of us hung out a lot during the summer between seventh and eighth grade. Went to ballgames. The county fair. The city pool. But during our freshman year of high school, I gave my heart to a guy in a relationship that lasted into our sophomore year of college. It was serious—or so I thought—until he decided it was over.
I’d started drinking heavily when I was sixteen. Jack Daniels mostly. Almost everyday—even when I was alone. Few people knew. When my long-term love rejected me, I felt I had no reason to live and the drinking increased. All my plans for a future included him. All my hopes and dreams needed a “him” to come true.
I’d been drowning my sorrows in whiskey for a week when my best friend Joni called to invite me to a football game with her and Brian, the guy I’d liked back in seventh grade. (How’s that for a twist?) They were now engaged and wanted to cheer me up, so she suggested our high school friend, Roy Andrews, come along. He’d returned to Indiana after his freshman year at some Christian college in Texas.
“I’ve heard he’s a little weird,” she warned. “He went down there and got religion, but he still likes football.”
I thought, Surely, one night with a friendly religious freak was better than another night alone. How bad could a little religion be? I’d been raised in a house with a Charismatic mom and a Quaker dad. So our double-date was set.
I knew Roy was different when he showed up for the football game in a tie. The foul-mouthed, hot-tempered jock I’d
been close friends with since junior high was a perfect gentleman all night. I couldn’t even cuss without feeling awkward, and I was dying for a cigarette.
By the end of the evening, I’d had enough. “Drop the act,” I said. “Your holier-than-thou shtick is annoying.”
“This is who I am now.” The clarity in his eyes unnerved me. “Jesus did this.”
Huh. I’d heard religious arguments before, but his sparsely-worded approach intrigued me. He asked me out for a second date, and I accepted just to see if he could pull off his act again. He did. And by the third date, I was convinced it wasn’t an act. The Jesus that had changed Roy was different than the One I’d witnessed during my family’s arguing and screaming. Roy’s Jesus had changed him from the inside out. Without giving me a lecture or even opening his Bible, Roy had convinced me God was real.
Within a month of my break-up, Roy knelt with me on my parents’ living room floor and led me through a simple prayer in which I confessed my sin, asked for God’s help to change, and accepted His authority over my life. The next morning, I poured my Jack Daniels down the sink, tossed my cigarettes, and told my parents I’d discovered the real Jesus, who would walk with me through whatever life brought my way.
Three months later, Roy presented me with a full box of Valentine’s Day chocolates—and let me pick out my favorites. Three months after that, we were married. Lots of our friends thought I married him on the rebound, but thirty-four years later, I can assure you our love is as real as the Jesus who brought us together.
Here are a few things I’ve learned about love and romance from the God who created them both:
- God loves plot twists.
- God’s timing is perfect.
- I’m convinced God created chocolate, and a man who values it is worth keeping.
About Mesu: Mesu and her husband, Roy, live in a log cabin snuggled into the beautiful Appalachian Mountains with their dog, Zeke. The Andrews’ have two married daughters and eight grandkids. Because of her deep understanding of and love for God’s Word, she brings the biblical world alive for her readers. In her most recent release, By the Waters of Babylon, Mesu captures the heart-rending emotion of Psalm 137 in a beautiful story of hope, faith, and enduring love.
About the book – By the Waters of Babylon:
When Babylon destroys Jerusalem, as Yahweh warned through his prophets, the captives’ bitterness and grief pours out in the Captives’ Psalm:
“[By the waters of Babylon] we sat as exiles, mourning our captivity, and wept with great love for Zion. Our music and mirth were no longer heard, only sadness. We hung up our harps on the willow trees.” (Psalm 137:1-2, The Passion Translation)
A young Israelite woman is among them, captured by a mercenary Scythian prince. Driven toward Babylon by both hatred and hope, she endures captivity to reunite with her husband.
But will he be there when she reaches Babylon? Will the prince risk the Scythian throne–and his life–to believe in the Hebrew God? Can they both find what they seek when they meet the prophet Ezekial. . . by the rivers of Babylon?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Get your copy now!
By the Waters of Babylon – Amazon By the Waters of Babylon – Universal Link
Question for Readers: Is there someone you admire whose life and actions proclaim their faith louder than words? Who is it, and how has he/she impacted your life?
Come back July 31st for Christa MacDonald!
Thanks for the chat, Shannon. A pleasure to meet you!
Very wow!! Chocolate..😋
Yes, my friend Darlene has really impacted my life by her christian example. she has went through a lot in her life but still remained faithful to God.
Those kind of friends are few and precious. You are blessed, Shelia!
My grandma, Ruby impacted my life by her christian example. For many years she was the adult Sunday school teacher. She taught children at Bible School. She taught me and other about Jesus and to love, follow and obey him. She proclaimed her faith in God to family, friends and to strangers. I pray and hope that I am half the women she was. Thank you the opportunity to win a copy of “By the Waters of Babylon”!
What a treasure to have those memories of your grandma, Julie. It sounds like you have a heart to keep her legacy alive. Blessings as you follow in her footsteps!
I have known this couple in ministry for over 40 years. They impacted my life as well as others through their sincere walk with Christ. Linda is a true Proverbs 31 woman and has been such an example to me. Love Pastor Don and Sister Linda for how they influenced my life.
Ministry for 40 years is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! May God bless them abundantly!!! Thanks for sharing about their impact on your life, Kathy.
Glad to have you, Mesu. My husband’s step mom has been a great example for me. She married my husband’s dad at 32 and became a preacher’s wife, then had her first child at 34. She was a great example when my husband morphed into a preacher after 15 years of marriage and then when we became parents after 17 years of marriage and I was 36. She’s a Proverbs 31 woman. Very selfless and goes above and beyond to help others. I want to be her when I grow up.
Wow! My mama had me when she was 34, and though she never complained, I’ve seen as an adult how difficult it was to change life at that age. Both you and your hubby’s step-mama are amazing! Blessings on your Prov. 31 women! 😉
My impact people were my godly grandparents, especially my grandmother, and now I have the privilege of being a “praying grandmother” also.
Louise, I so want to be that praying grandma too. Both my hubby and I had praying grandmas. What a privilege to carry on that legacy.
Wow. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Mesu. Your books are amazing and knowing a little of your own story helps me understand your books better. I admire my college roommate who’s love personified. Her gentle and kind actions show Christ in every way possible.
To have a close friend in your life that is such a strong witness–very encouraging. Blessings on you both!
My grandmother was an example of a Proverbs 31 woman. She worked hard, helped others, and never said a bad word about anyone; in fact, her perfect response to gossip was, “That’s not my cup of tea…” Now, as a child, I pondered this statement. Did she mean a brand or flavor? As an adult, I realized God gives us each unique flavors, some more pungent than others! We need His Holy Spirit to ‘sweeten’ our temperament, and His word to dull the sword of our tongues. Jesus was her guiding light, and she shined it for all her family to see! It is because of her prayers, faith, and example that I am a Christian.
What a beautiful testimony, Mary. I love that her exact words have penetrated your heart and stuck with you through the years in such vivid pictures. Beautiful!
Love your “love story”. God does have a way of bringing us around doesn’t He? We all have such unique stories of how God brought brought us and our spouse together. I love hearing everyone’s story. Love the box of chocolates!
EVERYONE has a story, huh? I love to look at strangers in their cars or in the grocery and ponder what their stories might be. It sure does soften my heart for them. And probably most of them love chocolate! LOL!
Now that was an interesting love story. I admire my Dad and Mom because they lived their lives for God in front of us kids. They never stopped taking us to church our whole life and taught us how to live by example.
What a testimony of faithfulness. Beautiful!
Loved your love story! I admired my Dad & Mom. They lived a Godly life in front of us kids and always took us to church.
This is beautiful!! With God all things are possible and one never really knows the route you will go. We just need to hold tightly to His hand. At 55 and after 10years of being doing life solo after a divorce, I am trusting Him for a love story that will bless others!
Only I know how hard my heart was, and because I know how impossible I was to save…I know no one is beyond God’s reach. And because I was so hopeless without God, I know no one with God is ever without hope.
My friend Peggy impacted my life. She was always optimistic. Her favorite saying was, “this too shall pass”. She was a true friend and they don’t come along every day.
Her Memorial Service is this afternoon.
Oh, Janet, I’m so sorry you’ve lost that beautiful, fresh wind that blew over your life. You’re right. True friends are rare and precious. You were blessed. I pray the Lord will bring another friend to bless you in the days to come–different than Peggy, no doubt, but someone who will fill your heart with joy.
My great aunt and uncle were missionaries in Japan for many, many years. In fact, they were gone for so long during my childhood that I did not know them very well. I did get to know them as an adult and they definitely led by their example.
What a blessing that you got to know them as an adult when you could really appreciate their sacrifice and witness. Thanks for sharing their faithfulness!
My friend, Janice is an amazing woman in the Lord. She has such a heart for Israel. She encourages me to grow in my relationship with the Lord.
Those friends who can both challenge and encourage are a rare breed. What a treasure you’ve found, Caryl!
I have a couple of people that are inspirational to me. Crystal, Carrie, Erika, Paula and a lot of other people that God has put for me to get knowledge about him. They have trials like me and they say blessings to God all the time. I didn’t know how they did it but now I am learning with them and from their testimonies. God is wonderful. Thank you for the chance to win one of your books and to learn how God works.
Amen, Tammy! God IS so wonderful. Sounds like you have a great tribe of encouragers that surrounds you.
I have a winner! Mary Soileau won the drawing. I appreciate Mesu for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.