Wedding showers, thank you cards, stamps, post office, DIY wedding invitations, more stamps, template is not working for invitations, printer decides it wants to eat invitations, back to car to get more invitations, template messes up again from the walk to the car and back, printer still doesn’t like us, invitations all printed!, no they’re not we need one more package, time to stuff!, no we need to find something to affix it to the top of the jacket, post office again x3, back to the post office when some wedding invitations return back to me, receive 3 emails from friends, first premarital counseling session, person that was paying for the cake is not able to anymore, more DIY wedding invitations that are STILL not done because the special sealing gluesticks decided to eat through THREE glueguns with THREE different packages of gluesticks which equals to THREE trips to Michael’s, bought veil, lady that was trusted to do alterations doesn’t do them anymore, wedding band that was perfect for my engagement ring doesn’t exist any more and may or may not be in certain stores because “once it’s off the website customer service can’t track it anymore”, receive 3 more emails when I haven’t even responded to the first 3 yet, stuff is overloaded at both houses that we’re staying at to the point where I can barely walk in my room, going to three Walmarts to buy stuff for the centerpieces and still not having enough, every time  I make my way to Michael’s I don’t have my 40% coupon with me and think the whole time how I could be saving 40% but I don’t have time to go back and get my coupon, John is in camp mode and once it hits life is only going to get nuttier, receive 4 more emails when I haven’t responded to the first 6 yet, blah blah blah blah blah…

I have been begging John for the last month to let us can the whole thing and just go to Vegas. He hasn’t let me win so far. Probably because he knows that I ultimately don’t want to do that. And, believe me, I have tried really hard to convince him. We’re talking tears, refusing to do the rest of the invitations, coaxing him with how much more money we’ll have, and that the sooner we got married, the sooner we could consummate things…but, still no luck. I mean, seriously, if my last point cannot convince him, then I know he believes we’re really supposed to do this whole wedding thing.

I know we are supposed to do this whole wedding thing. We have prayed every day (for real, every day) that Jesus would be exalted at our wedding. And, that everyone would walk away from our wedding thinking about Jesus and his bride, not about us. And, because of these intense, “Lord, please make Your fame greatly known at our wedding” prayers, the enemy has been workin’ double time. I mean, the second we get more gusto to keep going, something else goes wrong. But, this just lets me know that God is honoring our requests to bring people to salvation through our wedding.

I may be a little scared to say this, BUT….bring it on, devil!!

John and I have had a crazy last three weeks! From a trip to Texas, 2 wedding showers, more wedding planning, a marriage preparation class, finding an apartment, and lots more squeezed in there, we are both exhausted. But, somehow, through all of the exhaustion, we have been hearing the voice of God.

We have finally come to peace about a very big decision that will decide our future. But, we also know that we serve a God that is big enough to decide our future and we would much rather Him do it than us try and control it. I’m not going to go into any more detail than that, because I feel like we need more time to stand on the decision before declaring it from the mountaintops. A lot of times when I hear the voice of God on a big decision, I just like to rest in it. And, if people ask me about whatever the topic is, then I can explain where the Lord has led me. Otherwise, I would rather just walk in the decision than letting the world know what God has told me to do. And, in this case, me and my almost-husband got to hear from the Lord together on the decision! Too cool.
Okay, but, anyways, here’s the real point to this post…why do people get married anyways?

To complete each other? No! Our completion is found through Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord that it is found in Him and not in an imperfect human being.

To procreate? Absolutely. We are called to disciple our children and send them out in the world to tell people about Jesus. But, I don’t believe that this is the only reason by any means.

The answer on why to get married is the typical Sunday school answer…

it’s JESUS

It’s one more way to look just like Him.

Ephesians 5 pretty much sums it all up. Even though John and I are both still human, with sin in our lives, God will still use our marriage to give the world a picture of Jesus’ pursuance of us. We won’t need to be married in Heaven because, Jesus will be there to give us the perfect picture of His love for us. Marriage is the closest thing on earth that can give a visual of Jesus’ undying love for us.

Jesus will never ever leave His wife, us. He is committed beyond comprehension. John and I are both so grateful that the Lord would allow us to enter into marriage to try and mimic this picture for the world.

Jesus is 100%, madly in love with those that have come to faith in Him. He continues to pursue even when we reject Him. He continues to love even when we feel unlovable. He cleanses us even when the stains feel too deep. And, John and I get the opportunity to paint this picture to everyone through our marriage. What an overwhelming responsibility, but also what a great reason to work on our marriage even when the tough times come.

I love Jesus a whole lot. And, I love the fact that He has given me one more opportunity to share His truth.

John left yesterday afternoon bound for the Dream Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He and 55 teenagers from Ampd Student Ministry are in for a week of loving the broken in that area. They come back Saturday afternoon, which will not be a moment too soon for me!

One of the first things that attracted me to John was when he talked about the Dream Center in Los Angeles, California. When sparks first started flying between John and I, he had just come home from a 2 week trip to work with DC in California. He couldn’t stop telling stories about all of the cool things they were doing for Jesus. And, if you couldn’t tell from my last two blogs, I like cool things for Jesus! So, this cute guy definitely had my attention while he talked passionately about why he didn’t understand how every city didn’t do outreach like the Dream Center.

I am so excited he’s in Atlanta this week! Him and I talk all the time about going (or even moving) out to Los Angeles and helping with the Dream Center in some way. We can’t wait until we actually get to go out there!

Even though I already feel like a lost puppy without my beloved fiance, I know he’ll have a great trip! Golly, I really do miss him already, but Saturday will be here before we know it!

Those that have known me for any extended length of time know that I don’t mind climbing up on a soapbox to tell it like it is. Well, this week has been no different. I carry an oversized purse to keep my portable soapbox handy at all times, so let me get it really quick…

Okay, here’s the deal, I went to an event at a local college here in town that featured three keynote speakers: a Jewish Rabbi, a Christian Pastor, and a Muslim Imam. Each speaker was given around 20 minutes to just talk about their religion and how it’s different than the other two Abrahamic faiths. The event happens every year and is sponsored by three different organizations on campus that represent each of the religions. After the speakers discuss, there is a short break for people to write out their questions, then we come back to a question and answer time.

I sat with my friends that are of the Islamic faith and we got ready for the big discussion of all the religions. First, the Rabbi. He was there last year, so I pretty much knew what to expect. Now, it’s time for the Pastor. This was his first time being there, because the prior two years it was a different man. I’m all ready for this guy to knock one out of the park for the home team!! But instead…

He spent 19.5 of his 20 minutes talking about Genesis and how God is the creator. Um, did you miss the sign on the door? These are the three Abrahamic faiths, we all agree that God must be the creator. And, um, did you miss the presumably fine print on the sign on the door? The Jewish Rabbi had Genesis covered.

But, I guess you’re right, sir, a 30 second spiel where you mention Jesus’ name twice would be sufficient to this crowd. I mean, why bore them with the whole Messiah/Son of God/Savior of the world sermon? Because, let’s face it, the Rabbi or the Imam won’t acknowledge Jesus as those things, so why should we? Right?

WRONG.

I almost stormed the stage and took the microphone. Even one of my Muslim friends was wondering why the Christian speaker didn’t talk about Jesus. Really? I mean, really?? My friend that has never even stepped inside of a Christian gathering was wondering why the Pastor guy wimped out and never discussed Jesus. Of course I told her it was ridiculous and that Jesus is the center of our faith.

Is this the state of American Christianity? Have we become so scared and numb that we can’t even talk about Jesus in a platform that we’ve been given to freely do so? Don’t get me wrong, it may come off as though I am bashing the guy. But, believe it or not, I really don’t hate him. I am sure he had great intentions and that he truly loves Jesus. I just think that we as an American Christian sub-culture are becoming more and more apathetic. I think we have just learned from other apathetic people that came before us.

We’re scared. We were burned once or twice. We’ve forgotten what it’s like to live with passion and share Jesus with the world. We’ve forgotten what it was like that first year we were Christians and everything we learned about Jesus was so exciting.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2 Tim 1:7

It’s time for me to start living like Jesus. It’s time for me to boldly proclaim His death and resurrection no matter what the situation.

“And he [Jesus] was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.” Luke 19:47, 48

I hope my words are so filled of truth that no one could even try to shut me down because all of the people are hanging on every word…

Here I am. Blogging. I’m really gonna stink at this whole blogging concept. I have recently become obsessed in following people’s blogs and they are all much better writers than me. But, hey, this will make it easier to follow them now, right?

What’s the first thing to do when making a blog?
Come up with a cool name!

Am I cool enough to come up with an awesome name?
Well, no.

Should I just listen to my favorite songs from the Antioch Church in Waco, TX and steal a quote from Heather Mercer as my blog name?
YES! Clearly, this is the only option!

It’s time to put action to the passion. I’m tired of sitting around with all of this bottled up love for Jesus.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:14

I mean, I’m ready to start living my life as close to Jesus’ life as possible. I want to start having actions where even other Christians begin to think, “ummm, not sure about that…”

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? James 2:15, 16

I want to be doing exactly what God is calling me to do when Jesus comes back. I think that I would probably be pretty ashamed if Jesus came back right now. I’m getting ready for that ‘something more’ in living my life out for Jesus.

it’s time to put action to the passion