But although Stephen and I had a nice time driving too and attending Ivy & Ryan's wedding, It's actually Joseph & Stephanie's wedding I would like to blog about!
Joseph and Steph where a beautiful Couple! They shared their first kiss on the day of their wedding, after they had been pronounced man and wife . . . what a testimony of their purity and commitment to both the Lord and each other.
I know when Stephen and I were courting and engaged several people made comments about how our parents were "making" us "do that courtship thing" and how they didn't see how we could "wait". First of all no one MADE us do anything, we wanted to and truly enjoyed every aspect of our courtship. It was our choice to save our first kiss for our wedding day, and one we have never regretted. And secondly, what's wrong with waiting?
In our country and culture today no one wants to wait for anything . . . for goodness sake we can't even wait for the oven to preheat any more, so we pop dinner in the microwave! But it is really true, the best things come to those who wait. Look at people in our culture today, divorce runs rampant, cries of "i don't love you any more, i never really loved you" ring in homes across the nation. Children live and grow in one parent homes. Men and women sit in prison because the just couldn't "wait" any longer for their "big break". So why? Why do we torture our selves with "settling" when we could have the very best? Why not just wait?!?!?!
Every day I am thankful for my husband and the wonderful sons we have been blessed with. I am thankful that I am secure in my husbands love, knowing he waited all his life just for me. I am thankful for the opportunity to give my sons a loving father, and the ability to have their mama home, because we waited for marriage to "become one". This to me is all worth waiting for.
"But waiting is hard!" Some might say. And this is true.
I would be the last person on earth to argue for the "easiness" of waiting. I would be the very first to affirm that waiting brings tears and, at times a yearning so deep it seems impossible to carry on! But if you carry on you will reap the benefits! For God's promises are sure and his strength is more than enough.
On Sunday the sermon was on Isaac and Rebecca, how God worked to bring them together . . . and how he answered their very hearts desire before they had even "done asking". And it reminded me of a memory . . .
In the spring of 2007 I was suffering with a severe case of "Stephenitis" in other words I had a "crush" (I hate that word, in reality I had noticed Stephen and his godly character and knowing that I wanted to wait on God's time and keep my heart pure for one man and was trying with all my might not to think about Stephen.) One Sunday afternoon after church Dad took off to pick up our tiller from a friend who had borrowed it. I was feeling very low, all I wanted was to get married and raise a family for the Lord. All i wanted was for a godly man (preferable Stephen) to come and sweep me off my feet. But nothing was happening. My 20th birthday was fast approaching as was my brothers wedding; both these events left me feeling very alone and forgotten. So that afternoon I took my journal and sat on the front porch. I spent time in prayer begging the Lord to help me be patient and wait on him. Pleading with him to show me his will for my life. Not to mention asking to have my crush alleviated so that I no longer had to struggle with constantly trying not to think or dream about Stephen. As I prayed and wrote in my journal I felt a wonderful peace, and a deep intensifying of my "crush". Unbeknown to me at that very moment Stephen was meeting with my father and asking him for permission to court me and win my heart. All though I didn't know it at the time God was answering my very prayer and hearts desire even as he was strengthening me to wait a little longer.
Two weeks later Stephen & I would begin our courtship and subsequently our Love Story. One that I have every reason to believe will carry through to the end of this life, and even into eternity!
Every day I am thankful for my husband and the wonderful sons we have been blessed with. I am thankful that I am secure in my husbands love, knowing he waited all his life just for me. I am thankful for the opportunity to give my sons a loving father, and the ability to have their mama home, because we waited for marriage to "become one". This to me is all worth waiting for.
"But waiting is hard!" Some might say. And this is true.
I would be the last person on earth to argue for the "easiness" of waiting. I would be the very first to affirm that waiting brings tears and, at times a yearning so deep it seems impossible to carry on! But if you carry on you will reap the benefits! For God's promises are sure and his strength is more than enough.
On Sunday the sermon was on Isaac and Rebecca, how God worked to bring them together . . . and how he answered their very hearts desire before they had even "done asking". And it reminded me of a memory . . .
In the spring of 2007 I was suffering with a severe case of "Stephenitis" in other words I had a "crush" (I hate that word, in reality I had noticed Stephen and his godly character and knowing that I wanted to wait on God's time and keep my heart pure for one man and was trying with all my might not to think about Stephen.) One Sunday afternoon after church Dad took off to pick up our tiller from a friend who had borrowed it. I was feeling very low, all I wanted was to get married and raise a family for the Lord. All i wanted was for a godly man (preferable Stephen) to come and sweep me off my feet. But nothing was happening. My 20th birthday was fast approaching as was my brothers wedding; both these events left me feeling very alone and forgotten. So that afternoon I took my journal and sat on the front porch. I spent time in prayer begging the Lord to help me be patient and wait on him. Pleading with him to show me his will for my life. Not to mention asking to have my crush alleviated so that I no longer had to struggle with constantly trying not to think or dream about Stephen. As I prayed and wrote in my journal I felt a wonderful peace, and a deep intensifying of my "crush". Unbeknown to me at that very moment Stephen was meeting with my father and asking him for permission to court me and win my heart. All though I didn't know it at the time God was answering my very prayer and hearts desire even as he was strengthening me to wait a little longer.
Two weeks later Stephen & I would begin our courtship and subsequently our Love Story. One that I have every reason to believe will carry through to the end of this life, and even into eternity!
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