After a long month of vacation from the blog, I am back to my regular writing schedule. I would like to start off this season by sharing something very personal and close to my heart and my life. It is about the journey to one of my dream destination, my marriage. I am sharing this for public accountability, and also as a testimony to encourage singles who have been waiting on the Lord to know their life partners.
The Bible says, “He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor with the Lord” (Prov 18:22) I would like to explain how I found my bundle of favor with the Lord! It began with me coming to the realization and revelation of why God said it is not good for man to be alone. It put me on my quest for God to show me who my wife is going to be. But I was never really bothered about who it is going to be and how it is going to happen.
Her Name is Rashmi…
She was born and brought up in Delhi and had been part of an evangelical church there during her growing years. She has two brothers, one elder and one younger. Her Dad is an architect and a God fearing man and her mom is a house wife. She is one of those rarely social, yet very friendly persons who grew up with this unusual desire to be wife to a man of God! (Blessed me, God’s ways are so totally cool) She is an introvert by nature yet will give her life for her convictions, for things she believes to be true.
Our First Meet…
Though the first time we met there was nothing spectacular, it sure was an unforgettable experience. I was in Delhi attending an all India counselors conference, and was staying at a relative’s house during its course. Rashmi used to take tuition for my niece. One evening when I was there she walked up to me and asked how I found Delhi and if I enjoyed the republic day parade that I had attended that day. That conversation made us friends and later she wrote to me mentioning how she was intrigued to see a pastor in shorts, working on a laptop and sporting a goatee! She had never seen a pastor like that before! (Whoever thinks pastors are boring old men with a potbelly, please take a lesson here.)
Our Friendship Strengthened…
We started off with exchanging emails, furthering up to exchanging phone numbers and to frequent texting and calling. Our friendship started with me helping and counseling her with some of her life issues. Our friendship grew and strengthened over time. We kept sharing our heart and knowing each other better for the next year and four months. During this course of time, Rashmi was born again and I later had the privilege of baptizing her at a small and private meeting in Bangalore, fulfilling an earlier prophecy that the person I marry will be like Ruth who was fed from the harvest in Boaz’s field.
The Love Blossoms…
It was on April 4th, 2011 that we had our first date at a café in Bangalore. Though we liked each other, we had been waiting on God for His will and purpose to be revealed in our lives. After we heard from God about each other, even though there were still many questions unanswered, we went ahead with faith and committed our lives to each other for marriage. Though we have met only a few times since that day, we have grown together as a couple in knowing the heart of God for our lives, understanding each other better and working together to edify others who come our way. Immediately after that, we shared it with our spiritual mentors and our physical parents and sought their blessings and advice over the same.
The Wedding Bells…
The thing that stops us from getting married right now is the fact that Rashmi is a student of a post graduate course in a college in the city of Cochin. She will finish her studies in March this year post which we will tie the knot in holy matrimony at a private ceremony in Bangalore on April 4th, and be man and wife for the rest of our lives, according to God’s ordinance. We solicit your prayers, wishes and blessings for the same.
Do you have a word of advice or encouragement for Priji & Rashmi? Please feel free to leave a comment in the section below! You can also find & follow Rashmi on twitter @RashmiJon or email her at [email protected] (Rashmi John also serves as an admin and editor for this blog for over an year now, Read an earlier post by Rashmi on this blog: Towards a NOYAPHOBIC World)
Congratulations. God Bless you both! 🙂
Congratulations Ps Priji & Rashmi. God Bless You !
So happy for ya’ll
God bless!!!
happy for you pastor…..we r going to hv a pastor amma soon:)…..
Yayyyyyyyyyy! Cant wait for the big day! U guys are adorably perfect for each other 🙂 Such a blessing it is to know you both!
Oh wow! m so glad for u both….wish to b a part of that gr8 day!
God Bless both of you 🙂
congratz priji…God bless u both n use u both for His kingdom…
Thank you Christy! Prayers expected!
Thank you bro!
Thank you Cindy! Blessed to have you as a friend!
Oh yea! Yes Kenneth! Pastor amma sounds cool!!!
My Brother! Thank you so much!
Thank you Shobin, blessed to know you!
Thank you Binoy!
So good to hear 2013 make u two together in God…God bless you
Celebrating with u. Love.
Greatly blessed to have you with us! love you too!
Thank you rohan, have a great year ahead!
Congrats Priji anna 🙂
Thank you Tulasi!
Congratulations! Wishing you both all the best for the service of God together!!
Thank you Sharon! Glad to hear from you!
ho ! Congratulations is in order bro. that part of baptizing uer soon to be wife gives me an idea 😉 LoLs.. just for laffs, Love and Bklessings your way
God bless you and Rashmi for a great life and ministry together in Christ.
Lolol, thank you so much! Bless you too!
Thank you sis!
Pastor Priji&Rashmi… Happy for you both.. May God pour his choicest blessings on you and your family. Prashant,Gujarat!
Thank you Prashant! Please continue to keep us in prayers!
Cant believe that the day is almost here… Too excited and happy for you and Rashmi… Loads of love from me and Santosh….
Me can’t wait either! Just 16 days more!!!!! Thank you so much, please continue to uphold us in prayers!!!
A great season ahead of you bro. wishing u all the favour and blessings.
Amen, I believe and receive that! Thank you bro!
Wishing you all the best!
Thank you so much Brother! Your prayers are valuable!
God is good bro, So happy for you both and the ways God had been leading you. greater things are yet to come. God bless.
Yes Sharon, I agree that! Thanks for the encouragement. Please do keep us in prayers.
Hey priji gud to hear hw god is leading you..few days back i had the privilege to minister to a young friend nd shard ur blog nd ur testimony..I m sure he is blessed by it..So great to see lives changing thru ur blog..Keep thngs posted…Wishes and prayers wid u my frnd..God bless.
Happy days ahead bro……..may god shower the flowers of
happiness in both of ur life …& also my hearty wishes to both the Pastors…….. .
Thank you so much Presty! That’s a great encouragement to know! May God continue to honour and lift you up for his glory!
Thank you bro! So wish y’all could join us at the wedding! Hope to see y’all soon! Regards!
Can’t wait for the D day! Super excited…every time I hear your love story, it tears me up! So cool our God is! Super happy for you and Rash!
Such a cute love story 🙂 God works out everything so beautifully.
Best wishes!
Praise the Lord ! God Bless you Priji & Rashmi !Brought together by His grace and for His glory !
Hi Priji. Elated to read this 🙂 May u both have a wonderful life together 🙂 God bless u 🙂 -aparna (VIT).
Yes Cindy, our story is nothing but an expression God’s love for us! So glad to have friends like you who would stand with us! Love ya!
Yea! The way God works it out is the best! Can’t thank him enough!!! Thank you for the wishes, Dorea! Bless you!
Hieeeee, glad to hear from you! Please continue to keep us in prayers. Thank you for the word, I believe our union will be for His glory! Bless you!
Hi Aparna! Thank you so much! Glad to hear from you. God bless you too!
congratz prijin rashmi.. such a wonderful love story.. God Bless u both!!! 🙂
Hi Pastor priji, congratulation to you both.
from,
Rebecca Gabriel
Mumbai
Congrats bro.
May you have a blessed time ministering together for the establishing of His Kingdom everywhere you go! Amen! 🙂
Thank you so much Anvesh! That’s a blessing!!!
Thank you Rebecca! Pls do pray for us! 🙂
Hello Tilda, yes everything God does is wonderful. Praise God!
It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. 😀
Congratulations, Rashmi, and to you as well, Pr. Priji. 🙂
My heartiest wishes and prayers to both of you for the life ahead. 🙂
Love conquers the world, God Bless you all.
Thank You Prakash! I agree with you!
Thank you so much Samuel! Bless you!
Wow! That’s an incredible story! Good reading and I pray and wish you all the success in life!
Thank you so much Gerard!
It’s an encouragement to hear that.
Bless you too.
If you ever come to Australia, you are more than welcome to stay with us in Sydney – building a big house which should be ready in a year or so.
Thank you Gerard for the invite! May the good Lord bless all that you do for the glory of his name!
You are very welcome 🙂