"Worth Far More Than Rubies"

Frank & Ruth Shelton

Well, its Sunday and I am flying back home tomorrow from Birmingham, Alabama to Maryland after preaching today at Victory Church of God in Anderson, AL. As my friends down south say: ROLL TIDE!” Over the years, God has opened some AMAZING doors for me to walk through. Honestly, I take no credit for what He has done.

God has introduced me to folks that as a child were my heroes in film and in faith. He taught me early on that the sky was the limit and with God “ALL things are possible.” Why doubt when I could dream! He has allowed me to travel and visit ancient ruins, climb pyramids in Cairo, Egypt (almost got killed doing so), baptized in the Jordan where John & Jesus were, swam in the Dead Sea and rolled down the Nile River. Preached in the Bahamas and watched a movie being made in Las Vegas (ROCKY BALBOA) and even met a few “stars” in Los Angeles.

God has allowed me to do some pretty neat things in life. Regardless, if boarding “Air Force One” or flying on “Air Force Two” and interacting with heads of state, peeking in the Oval Office or driving a Congressman or Governor in my car; my life has resembled Forrest Gump more than once. Another highlight was playing 20 minutes of touch football on the legendary field of the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, and shooting hoops (at age 13) on a NBA court with the Harlem Globetrotters. My friend, Sam Glenn and I drove a $100k Mercedes loaned to us for a weekend while ministering in FL and the list could go on but again it is God’s doing not mine. Another special moment was meeting the late, great Dr E.V. Hill at the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Monterey, CA in 1998, and he took the time to sign my Bible (I still preach weekly from that same Bible).

However, I will stop here because all of these events have happened not by fate but faith and God being the “Author and Finisher” of my life. It was not my credentials but Christ’s choosing and any success is not in my merits but His mercy. The bottom line is that God (as always) has been way too good to me. Like that classic song: “Sometimes He saves the best for last.”

The greatest thing in my life is not “things.” It is my salvation found “by faith” in Jesus Christ and my wife, Ruth and children, Hannah Grace & Andrew Lincoln. My faith, family and friends are the foundation of my life. The Bible notes: “he that finds a wife is most certainly blessed.” God has blessed me beyond measure and its true “the only good in me is Jesus.”

Monday, November 16, is my wife, Ruth’s birthday. When I first saw her it seemed time stood still. For this Type A evangelist that is in a constant state of perpetual motion when I gazed at her she stopped me dead in my tracks and almost stopped my heart in the process! She had a beauty that I had not seen before and it wasn’t just outside but she radiated for the Redeemer on the inside. She glowed for God and her love for the Lord was both evident and encouraging.

She is pure, precious and a princess. In my eyes, she is perfect and if she has any faults I am not aware of them. Hands down, she is one of the most respected people in radio and she runs three Christian-Spanish radio stations (PA, DC and VA). She is humble, honorable and almost always happy. Plus, she is one of the most hardest working person I know. She encourages me to live for God like few I have known and she is my best friend, cheerleader and wife. She is grounded in grace and never forgot where she has come from. Her daddy is a pastor of 50 years and they grew up in El Salvador. When evangelists come to Washington, DC the joke (but reality) is they don’t solicit or contact clergy of mega churches to announce their meetings but they only call one person – my wife, Ruth. They know if they can get to Ruth she will share with her audience on the radio and crowds come from everywhere. It has been said if she moved back to El Salvador she could run for elected office (no joke) and WIN.

She has been invited to State Dinners at The White House and yet politely “by passed” them to stay at home with our family. Almost daily, I wake up and pause and thank God that out of all the people in the world – I have the high honor to wake up with Ruth every morning. She is the glue in our family and the love of my heart. What I admire about her is not only can she hold her own but regardless of those in her presence she genuinely loves on them like our Lord and makes them feel special. Her mere presence challenges me to do my best and convicts me when I am off track.

The past two posts I discussed rejection and I rejoice more than ever not only by God’s great grace but the gift he has entrusted me with my bride and best friend. Today, may be her birthday but every day serves as an anniversary for me of when and where we met and why God would allow me to walk through life with someone as lovely as her. It is true: “Behind every good man is a great woman.” The fact is I am not “good” because all of us are like filthy rags compared to the righteousness of Christ but without question Ruth is most certainly a great woman. She has more “class” than a college. She has more compassion than a nurse and her value to me is worth all the gold in Fort Knox. She is spectacular and yet satisfied being a servant (the greats are servants). She is a mother to Andrew & Hannah and she is much more than a cook and cute but a confidant, cheerleader and counsellor to this “glorified goof ball” and work in progress.

Ruth also knows the call of God on my life to share the Word with the world. In my heart, I am convinced her reward will be greater than mine because like Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth and so many others in ministry have un-selfishly loaned their man to bring the Message to the masses. Society saw the “saints” speaking on stage but often forgot about the spouse behind (yet beside) their man while ministering. The Bible is clear: “Many who are first will be last and many last will be first.” Ruth and I, both are trying to point people to Jesus on a daily basis by our life and lips but for the record she is not only worth far more than rubies, Rolex, Range Rover and real estate but the greatest gift of my life.

Happy Birthday Baby and I am glad my heart didn’t stop when we met but when it does down the road I have been one rich man because God in His grace allowed me walk and talk with you. My wife, Ruth reminds me of God’s grace – I was smart enough to know I couldn’t earn it but I’m not dumb enough to reject it. Thank you Jesus and thank you Ruth for what you mean to me and so many. I LOVE YOU