In two days, my brother will stand in front of friends and family make a covenant with the woman he loves.
In two days, my brother will slip a ring on Megan's finger and vow to love her until his dying breath.
In two days, my brother will make a decision that will forever change his life.
In two days, my brother will stand before a holy and gracious God and pledge he will honor and cherish the King's daughter with every fiber of his being, no matter the cost.
It's a hefty decision. Apart from accepting Christ, I'd say it's the most important decision a person can ever make in his or her lifetime.
But you know what's really mind-boggling about those moments? They are mere reflections. Mere reflections of what Christ desires for His Church, his own bride. But you know what I also really love about those moments? It reminds me that God is
for us. He is
for marriage. He is
for purity. He is
for covenant relationships. He is in favor of those things that ultimately reflect Him.
One of the poems that I absolutely love is called "Dear Bride to Be" by Beth Moore. I don't know where I first encountered it, but I think I have given a copy of it to nearly every friend I have that has recently gotten married. In my mind, it captures God's deepest desires for our marriages.
Josh and Megan - this is my prayer for you.
Come to Me, dear bride to be
And kneel before My throne,
And I will share My heart with you
And make your house a home.
Listen well, lean closely,
There are secrets at My feet.
The marriage you will soon begin
This Bridegroom will complete.
The man with whom you’ll journey
Is your wedding gift from me
To teach you things beyond this world,
A precious mystery.
For through your union I will choose to teach you of myself
Let him hold you tightly
and keep you safe from harm
until I’ll one day hold you in my everlasting arms.
Let him wipe away your tears
and trust him with your pain
until I wipe them all away and heaven is your gain.
Pray to love his tender touch and want his gentle kiss.
I grant you both my blessing
and ask you not to miss
the reason why I have chosen for two halves to become one
That you might see the Bride of Christ,
sweet daughter, dear son.
So make his home a refuge, he’s to love you as I do
Until your mansion is complete for you
And if I should choose to leave you here when I call him home Trust me, I’ll be your husband then, you’ll never be alone.
"On 19 July, a gigantic crane offloaded a 26,000-pound container onto the Village grounds. The children had never seen the mechanical bird in their lives. They held their breath, not sure if the chains would snap and the container would go into free fall. Several of them clasped their hands in silent prayer. We took the opportunity to have a Science lesson on mechanics.
