Adorned With Jewels

Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

For Christmas, my sweet groom gave me the jewelry for the wedding! How precious is he? Months ago, I discovered the perfect earring and necklace set EVER! And I gushed..... :) And apparently, it worked too, because 'viola! I now have the beautiful set that I'm anxious to wear on April 17! It's a beautiful sapphire gem complete with the always-needed bridal pearls found at Jessica's Wedding.com

Jewelry is something nearly every girl adores. I am a fellow adoree'. :) I like pearls, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, gold, silver....bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings.... jewelry. In a way, it's a bit of royalty we ladies slide on our wrists or clasp around our neck. It transforms us from "plain" to "not-so-plain." Such is salvation...

Planning my wedding and thinking of all the spiritual significance in a wedding ceremony, I've found so many likenesses to salvation. In a way, every detail of a wedding is a beautiful picture of God's saving grace. Even such a small detail like a pearl necklace or beautiful new earrings are a picture of Calvary's love and the redemption process that took place over 2,000 years ago. In Ezekiel chapter 16, it gives a clear picture of who we are without Christ....dirty and naked and filled with shame, despised and full of "sin." Then it gives us glorious hope. It then says how Jesus comes and covers our nakedness, cleans the dirt from our lives, rids us of the impurity that is sin. Then it says this:

Ezekiel 16:12
And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

Accepting Christ as Lord into our hearts, we are made clean and pure and - decked out in jewels! We are made royalty! Earrings....jewels...a crown.

That's another wonderful view of salvation (and one us girls love!)

My wedding jewelry will remind me of God's redeeming love and saving grace. The pearls in my necklace and earrings will remind me of the pearly gates, and of my purified state in Christ. The sapphire stone will remind me of God's throne and the beauty of Heaven...and of a life lived with Him as the cornerstone.

....I'm loving jewelry more every minute!

Revelation 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

'Tis the Season to Keep Planning

With Christmas only a few days away, wedding plans are slow. But NOT non-existent. :) I have my jewelry for the big day (YAY!!), I'm trying to make a final decision on the invitations (headache, anyone?), the bridesmaid's material is in (finally!), and I scheduled a run through in two weeks for my wedding "do" (I have got to figure out what to do with this hair!).

My room is chock-full of presents, wrapping paper, and Bridal magazines and notes scattered here and there with reminders, "Things To Do," various checklists, and Christmas decorations. Tis the season!

But in the midst of all the planning, I'm taking time to cherish my family and my loved ones who are all here at home for Christmas. Nothing is better to me than sitting on a couch with apple cider in my hand, watching the fire, and listening to my family talk, visit, sing, and laugh. Christmas movies, Christmas music, Christmas lights, Christmas food! It's all a beautiful part of the life I live (and greatly enjoy living, I might add!). This being my last Christmas at home, it's bitter-sweet and gives me all the more reason to soak up every sound of Christmas this year. Just a note to all of you reading (especially you fellow brides): Life is crazy all the time, but let's not forget to enjoy the simple things, the simple life; Our family, our friends, our Savior!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Bride & Groom

Savin' The Kissin'

I was skimming through channels and stopped on the Disney Channel just long enough to watch a dialog between two friends on a well-loved afternoon TV show. The friends, a boy and a girl, were discussing their first kiss. The girl recounted her first kiss and when all eyes turned to her friend, he said, "I haven't had my first kiss yet." GASP! Of course, my attention was fixed, awaiting the response. When the girl's eyes changed from shock to softness, and when she said, "I think that is really sweet," I was pleasantly surprised. I was almost ready to endorse such a show when the boy rolled his eyes and said, "It's not sweet! It's lame!" Disappointed, I shook my head.

Regardless of what the secular media dishes out, a kiss is something special, something meaningful. Of course, nowadays it's almost become mandatory for every young boy and girl to kiss before the end of middle school, in order to be inducted into the "real world" of "cool" and not be sentenced to endure High School as "the lame one." And what a shame too.

I've seen it quite often lately. When watching an audition for American Idol, a handsome 19 year old guy with a stunning voice was ridiculed and then later rejected by the judges because he said he was saving his first kiss for his future wife. Heaven forbid we have an entertainer who doesn't desire to be held up as a sex-symbol, right? But to go as far as to say that they want to save a kiss for marriage? Scandal!

When I was 13 years old, I made the comittment to save myself for marriage; to refrain from sexual intimacy until my wedding night. In addition to that comittment, I also decided that I would save my first kiss for my wedding day. When I made those comittments, there was no applause and no "Good for you!" remarks. There were, however, a great display of rolling eyes, and a near-constant "reminder" that such a thing was just not realistic. I beg to differ. Here I am at 23, content, happy, and engaged to a wonderful man who values purity as the treasure it is. I have no string of fella's behind me, to compare with my husband. I am not, nor have I ever wished I could take back such a dreadful comittment. Quite the opposite, I'm elated, blessed, and very thankful to God for His strength and His grace. It IS realistic. In every generation, there are a few who value a kiss, who view it as a priceless treasure, and something to be given to only one. In every generation, there are a few who chose to guard their kiss, protect it, save it. And they do! If your role models are Paris Hilton, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt and Justin Timberlake, I guess such a thing does seem absurd. It usually is to the world. But if your role models are among the likes of Sarah Edwards, Jim Elliot, The Ludy's and Amy Carmichael, then such a thing is quite normal. If a heart is set towards God's way of holiness, purity, sacredness, and honor, and saving a kiss? That's the thing to do!

P.S. Personally, I believe standing in a gown of pure white on my wedding day, and taking my man as my husband, then giving to him - and only him - my first kiss is definitely NOT lame. ;)

And Your Feet Shod With... Wedding Shoes!

Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

My shoes came in!!!

I have been stressing over shoes for nearly three months trying to find the right ones. And I mean the right ones at a decent price (meaning I find a pair of shoes for $170 outrageous!). But I found a lovely and very reasonably priced pair two weeks ago and, after a few days of thinking, I ordered them. 3 1/2 inch heel (yes, I know), white satin. Beautiful! And now they are in my possession and....they...are...simply...lovely. Very simple, yet very elegant. Very me.

I tried them on with the dress last night and I felt like a princess yet again. ....I seem to be having a lot of those "princess" moments lately. :) So we have the shoe department taken care of. Glory be!

With shoes on the brain, I've been thinking about my spiritual shoes. On my wedding day, when I slip on my shoes and walk towards my groom, it's a picture of everyday life. Every day we are to put on our spiritual shoes and walk closer to our heavenly Groom. We're to walk in a lot of things... in peace, in love, in wisdom, in truth...to name a few.

Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Each morning, as we greet the day, while we put on our every day shoes like sneakers, sandals, boots, or even slippers, we're also to take that time to remind ourselves to walk in peace, in the love of Christ, to walk in His wisdom, and in His truth. As a Christian, the world is watching our feet. They see where we go, what we do, and how we act. To showcase the glory of God, it's absolutely necessary for us to walk in Christ; to put on our lovely shoes and walk towards Him, with Him, beside Him, etc.

As I slip on my beautiful bridal wedding shoes, I'm reminded that I must walk in peace. I must seek to be a peacemaker and show the world that the Giver of Peace is alive and well and able to bring peace to any situation. I also must walk in love. As a Christian, I must demonstrate the love of God in my life to others. He loves....so I must love. And truly, if Christ lives inside us, His love should naturally flow out of our lives. As a Christian woman, I must walk in wisdom! I must tame my emotions and allow the wonderful wisdom of the Only Wise God to invade my being, thus enabling me to make good choices - His choices! And also to show the world that all pursuits of knowledge is fruitless if God is not in your heart, bringing true wisdom to your life. And, I must walk in truth. Satan is on the prowl, spreading lies and seeking to destroy. So then I must walk in the unchanging truth of Christ and be a light that shines in the darkness.

Of course, there are plenty of other things a Christian should walk in... but there are four.

As a girl, I love shoes! As a bride, I adore my wedding shoes. But as a Christian? I must ask myself, do I love and adore peace, love, wisdom and truth more? And if so, though I stumble and even fall in my spiritual shoes, will I continue to walk in them?

Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

To Have And To Hold

To have and to hold, from this day forward,
For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,
In sickness or in health, to love and to cherish....forever

I've been thinking of the wedding vows. What is a vow?

Vow
1. a solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment: marriage vows; a vow of secrecy.
2. a solemn promise made to a deity or saint committing oneself
to an act, service, or condition.
3. a solemn or earnest declaration.

There is a wedding every day and, at those weddings, people make a vow to one another. They vow to stand by one another, to love one another, to cherish one another, to respect one another...etc. etc. It's quite a promise.

So many marriages fail, so many couples give up, too may lives torn apart, hearts broken, promises broken.... Looking at the divorce rate, it's hard not to ask, "Why did they even bother vowing? Promising their love?"

In many if not most marriages, the vows end with "'til death do us part." Meaning, the promise they have made to be with one another, loving, serving, etc. will continue and not end until death separates them. Though the Bible says clearly that you are bound to your spouse until death, and are then free to marry another if you chose (though it is better to stay single), I just don't find that appealing. Personally, I like what my parents did. They vowed, not "til death" but "for forever." Marriage is for life. To have and to hold. I cannot imagine saving everything for my "one and only" only to give it to another if he dies. No...marriage is for keeps.

On April 17, 2010 when I stand before Grant, I'm going to make a vow - before God, him, my family, my friends, and all the onlookers - to have him and to hold him, from that day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness, and in health, to love him and to cherish him...forever. It's a covenant. Just like the covenant God made with us, marriage is a picture of forever. Christ came and offered us promises... to never leave us or forsake us, to uphold us with His hand, to serve, to "loveth more than a brother," to build a place for us, to receive us, and to be with us forever. Heavy promises, but it was a vow Christ made that was kept.

...so marriage should be.

Hosea 2:19-20 -
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

Matthew 19:6
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Things and Diamond Rings

Isaiah 61:10 -
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

You've heard the term... diamonds are a girl's best friend. I wouldn't go as far as to say that's true. But I will say that girls DO like diamonds. Personally....big, small, princess cut or pear cut - it doesn't matter to me.

Usually when a girl gets engaged, when a ring is placed on her finger, some questions are commonly asked. They are known as the Four C's .....

1. Color?
2. Cut?
3. Clarity?
4. Carat?

Those things may mean the world to some girls, but personally, I just don't find them all that important. I have my own list of C's. MY "Four C's" are more like....

1. Christian?
2. Character?
3. Committed?
4. Compassionate?


Those things are far more important in a marriage. The color of your diamond ring is meaningless when your man is a God-fearing Christian. The cut of your ring isn't as important as the cut of his soul....his character in other words. Is he caring? Is he Courageous? Now, the clarity of that ring? Hmmm...more like "Is my man committed?" In other words, "Are his motives clear?" I'd say that takes precedence over the ring. And....a carat? No, I'd choose compassion.

Color, cut, clarity, carat....those things are just a part of a piece of jewelry on your left ring finger. Marriage is made up of more than that.

Whether you have a rock on your hand or no ring at all....it isn't about the diamond in a ring. It's about the diamond called your man (or your wife for you men reading). It's about the love and commitment between the two of you as you join hearts and lives in serving Christ. That's the real gem that is priceless! That's the real jewel, worth so much more than money can buy.

The Greatest Lover of All Time

Philippians 2:5-7 -
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

A Poet and a Prince

It's common knowledge that most girls want a prince. They want the suave, confident, handsome, and heroic manly-man. They want a man who isn't afraid to swing a sword and defeat the villian. Blood, sweat, dirt and all.

But there is another side of a man that is greatly desired by ladies as well. It's the poetic side.

When guys hear the word "poetic" they usually grumble and think of Shakespeare and Longfellow and their English Literature class in school. But the poetic side that girls long for isn't a man in tights fervently saying "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!" It's not even roses and rings. It isn't even fancy restaurants and candlelit dinners. Those things are sweet, but it is so much more than that! The poetic side is the simple romance of the heart. It's the time spent thinking of and appreciating the other. It's the tender words, the thoughtful actions, the sweet little notes and beautifully written love letters. For a prince to be truly noble, he must be tender. He must be willing to fight off the dragons (and bugs and mice too!) and willing to risk his life saving you from harm, but he also must be thoughtful, kind, considerate, loving...not just risking his life for you, but willing to literally lay it down. And vice-versa for us ladies! (But more on the flip-side another day!)

Jesus, as I have written before, is the PERFECT Prince! The true Prince. He is the ultimate Warrior, the ultimate Champion. But He is also the ultimate Lover. He is the ultimate Poet. He demonstrated His love for us not only by coming to earth and defeating Satan's hold on us, offering us Salvation, but He demonstrated His love by literally laying down His life for all of mankind.

I heard it said once that the perfect picture of manhood and of Jesus can be found in reading Revelation and Song of Solomon together. In Revelation, we see the strength and mighty valour of Christ. We see His Kingly manner and His royal position and authority. Then when reading Song of Solomon, we see His tenderness, His passionate love, and His poetic expression of that love. We see two sides of the Great King and Prince, Jesus Christ.

So it should be with earthly men.

If they desire to be like Jesus, then they must follow in His footsteps. They must be mighty and strong, standing up for least, defending the weak, serving Christ, and fighting in the army of God relentlessly. And along with that, they must be gentlemen, respectful, thoughtful, kind, sincere, trustworthy, faithful, romantic, tender, and loving. They must work with all their heart to be a poet and prince... just like Christ.

We girls swoon over a man like this. And as a reminder to myself and all you girls out there - earthly poet/princes are carbon copies, not the real thing! We should swoon 100 times more over Jesus Christ - the ultimate example of nobility and the Creator of all that is Princely and Poetic. We should desire an intimate relationship FIRST and FOREMOST with Him. As a result... He will lead us to our earthly poet/prince. :)

The following song is a perfect picture of the contrast between the earthly noble prince/poet and our heavenly Prince/Poet. It makes me cry...fyi, so grab some tissues girls and WAIT for a man like this. And all you guys? Tighten your belt and determine to BE like your King. I can assure you, there is nothing so handsome and worthy of respect and honor than a man who is a Poet and a Prince...

http://www.imeem.com/sunshine-rachelle/music/5Ad7QIaB/eric-and-leslie-ludy-poet-and-a-prince/

She longs for me to hold her
Offer my shoulder
Cherish her as a flower
Adore her as an angel

She longs for a defender
A love-inspired prize fighter
A champion, a charmer
A prince so noble like this

When I look within
Do I see a prince smiling back at me?
Or do I see a soul that’s been swallowed
By selfishness and greed?
If I’ll ever be a great lover, I must remember this
Love that lasts forever is found only in...Jesus

She longs for me to serenade
Think of her throughout my days
Know when to buy her flowers
Talk with her for hours

She longs for a lover
A true man of tenderness
A gentleman, a poet
A prince so noble like this

When I look inside
Do I see the signs that God is changing me?
Or do I see a man still led by self
Yearning to be free?
If I’ll ever be a great lover, I must remember this
Love that lasts forever is found only in...Jesus

He can teach me how to love her
Honor and defend her
How to be a man she laughs with
And she trusts enough to cry with
Someone just like Jesus

She longs for a true lover
I can be this for her
Cause I will learn from Jesus
How to be a man that’s tender

His gentleness and strength
And love that spans eternity
He’s a champion of true love
He’s a gentleman, a poet, a prince

Veiled

FYI - I love my veil!!

Random, I know. To be quite honest, I've tried on my wedding veil more than I've tried on my dress. Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE MY DRESS!! ....but I'll save my dress adoration for another post. Right now, I'd love to tell you how much I dearly love my veil...and why.

When I hear brides talking about their wedding, I hear them gush about their groom, I see them glow about their dress, and I see the sparkle in their eyes when discussing the ring. I hear the excitement mixed with stress when talking about invitations, flowers, food, parking, and dozens of other things. But when I think of it, I rarely hear a bride go on and on about her wedding veil.

Well... I'd like to. :)

Besides being long and lovely and simply beautiful, the veil shows the bride's modesty. It shows respect for the man and for God, and her respect for the sacredness and sanctity of the marriage covenant.The veil in the temple was rent when Christ died on the cross. This was to show us that Christians have free access to God. Since marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the believer, the removing of the veil after being pronounced as husband and wife represents the fact that a sinner who comes to Christ is no longer separated from God. It also indicates that the husband and wife now have full access to each other which they should not have had prior to marriage.

So the veil is quite amazing, to say the least.

Ever since I was a little girl, my Dad and Mom instilled in me the importance of modesty. Of course, at 10 and 11 years old, modesty was easy enough and not something I would even think much about. At that age, I was more concerned over memorizing and learning school work and AWANA, and reflecting on all the reasons I thought boys were gross. But when 15 and 16 came along, modesty was something I had in my mind every time I dressed. While friends would wear mini-skirts, and cleavage-bearing blouses, I would do my best to dress modestly. I didn't want guys ogling me, I didn't want to complete in the game of attracting guys that modern girls love to play, but most of all I didn't want to disgrace the Lord. My mouth professed to be a Christian. And I didn't want my body to showcase something different.

One beautiful picture of modesty that I've always used is the story of Rebekah in Genesis chapter 24. After a long and beautifully romantic story of how Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac, Rebekah is found...and now she is on her way to meet her husband - a man she's never even seen! After what I'm sure was a looooooooong journey, at last they arrive. Isaac sees Rebekah and Rebekah sees Isaac. But instead of pulling up her skirt just a little to show off her legs, instead of applying CoverGirl's new red rose color of lipstick, and instead of adjusting her outfit to show every curve God gave her - INSTEAD of the modern approach - she took a veil and covered herself.

And I say beautiful! Would that we all were like Rebekah.

1 Peter 3:3-4 -
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

I remember something my Dad told me long ago regarding modesty. In one of our many talks, I remember asking, "How do you know when something is modest or not?"

I'll never forget his answer. He leaned back and said, "Let me just say this.... If you try, you will."

I stared at him. Then he said, "If you try to dress to attract the eyes, then you will. But if you try to glorify God with how you dress.... if you try to be modest... then you will."

Profound, yet completely and utterly simple. I've tried to live on that principle ever since.

...if I determine to live my life for the glory of God—that will affect why
I wear what I wear. It will make me think about what I wear, not just go to the store and pick up whatever is the current style. - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I can't say I've been a success in looking 100% modest all of my 23 1/2 years. But I can say that I have desired to be modest....for many reasons.

* To honor my parents

* To dress respectfully and ladylike, so I will be treated as such

* To showcase God's beauty and loveliness in the way I dress

* To obey His commandments

* To please Christ

.....I could go on.

I Timothy 2:9 -
"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;"

I'm anxious to put on my veil again. Maybe I will tonight! Or maybe I'll wait....

Maybe I'm a bit too excited about my veil, but I see such beauty in the symbolism of it. It covers the bride... a picture of how she has, hopefully, been all her life. Which is modest.

The veil isn't just about beauty and girlyness. That's icing on the (wedding) cake! No, it's really a beautiful picture of modesty. The modesty of the bride, the groom....and even the marriage.

Veiled is good!

The Party of Attendants

This past week, Grant and I finally made the final decisions about our wedding party! It's going to be quite large, but there are so many people we want surrounding us on our special day. My sisters, his siblings, our cousins, and friends who have meant a great deal to us in our life will gather around us and watch us enter into the sacred covenant of marriage.

The bridesmaids will be decked out in sapphire blue dresses and the groomsmen will don the suits and sapphire blue ties. Lilies will be held by the ladies. Hair will be brushed on the men. ;) The flower girls will drop white rose petals and the ring bearer will, hopefully, not lose the rings.

Smiles are sure to be on everyone's face.

I've heard it said that a wedding ceremony is not merely two people covenanting before God - it is two people covenanting before God and before a select host of witnesses. I think that's very true.

For me, my bridesmaids are special. They include my sisters who are my best friends in the world, my friends who have encouraged me and prayed for and with me for years, my closest cousin with whom I share some of my greatest memories, and the sister of my groom.

The groomsmen are no different. They are men that Grant has chosen who mean a great deal to him.

Thinking about our attendants and who will be standing with us at the alter on April 17, 2010, I've thought about the wedding day we'll have one day with Christ. All the Old Testaments saints will gather 'round us and watch with ecstatic joy as we marry our Beloved. They will be our honored guests at the marriage supper. They will smile as they see us - the bride - come to Jesus, robed with white and "made ready." As exciting as my earthly wedding day will be, it won't hold a candle to that glorious day when - at last! - the waiting will be over.

I'm anxious to walk behind my friends and sisters and have them smile as a ring is placed on my finger and vows are spoken. But I'm quite ready to walk towards my Heavenly Prince and see the smiles from all the attendants up there, as well. :)

Revelation 19:7-9
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb..."

Marriage Takes Three

As a couple draws closer to God, they draw closer to each other...

Marriage Takes Three

I once thought marriage took
Just two to make a go,
But now I am convinced
It takes the Lord also.

And not one marriage fails
Where Christ is asked to enter,
As lovers come together
With Jesus at the center.

But marriage seldom thrives
And homes are incomplete
Until He’s welcomed there
To help avoid defeat.

In homes where Christ is first,
It’s obvious to see,
Those unions really work,
For marriage still takes three.

by Perry Tanksley

Sweet As The First Bite

Yesterday, my Mom and I met with the baker for my wedding and got the cake details set. Hip-hip-hooray! It was good to finally get that part of the wedding planning settled and marked off my ever-growing list of "Things To Do." We decided on a four-tier white cake with white buttercream icing that will look remarkably similiar to the picture on your left. <---- A few slight modifications... such as nix-on-the-red-flowers and yes-to-the-blue-dogwoods-and-white-lilies-instead. So, we have that taken care of.

But I've been thinking of wedding cakes ever since yesterday's meeting. I've been thinking about what the wedding cake means. For example: It's the first food the couple eats together. They feed the cake to one another, a symbol of being one flesh and sharing everything from that moment on; also a symbol of caring for the other. And... the cake is sweet.

I'll never forget last year at a friends' wedding, after the cake was cut and the happy bride and groom were sitting at their table eating, my Mom walked up to them and said, "I hope that your marriage and all the years to come will be as sweet as that first bite of wedding cake." Though it wasn't said to me, I'll never forget it.

The wedding cake is sweet! Fluffy cake, sweet-tasting icing.....sugar. :) If you'll indulge me, I'd say wedding cake is kind of a neat picture of salvation. It's beautiful and it's sweet.

May we always be mindful of the goodness of salvation...the sweetness of salvation. May each day of our walk with Christ be as sweet as the first. May it never dry up and become stale, but always fresh, always delightful to the taste.

John 15:11
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

The Warrior Prince

Isaiah 9:6b -"....and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Judges 6:12 -"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor."

Most every girl longs for a warrior prince, a noble knight, a valiant man of honor. Unfortunately, these days, men of such esteem are few and far between.

When I was little, I adored the "princes" in the movies. My heart would ache with excitement and longing while I watched Prince Phillip in Sleeping Beauty, as he rode in on his noble steed, defeated the dragon, braved through the forests, thundered up the palace steps and rescued his beloved princess!

What modern-day normal, average Joe would do such a dangerous and noble thing now?

The answer? Very few.

Recently, I've been reading the Old Testament battle sequences in the Bible. Over and over, I find phrases like "mighty men of valor" and "all the valiant men" and "a man of war." Words such as "honorable," "strong," and "helper" have stuck out among all the names and stories of the warriors. Men like David, Jephthah, Gideon, Benaiah have a name among the "mighty men of valour." David was a warrior and a King. He slayed Giants by day and wrote songs and psalms by night. A mighty man.... a tender man. A poet and a fighter. Many times we overlook the amazing "wow-ness" in the story of David killing the lion and the bear with his two hands, and then the giant, Goliath, with a single stone.

What modern-day guy could do that??

The answer? Next to none.

Sadly, the men who have the power of God upon them so strongly that they can defeat lions, tigers, bears (oh my!) and the giants are closer to zero. Most "men" are femininity-bashing, innocence-conquering, wolves in sheep's clothing. They are of the charm-enhancing, smooth-talking, self-centered breed, who believe themselves to be God's gift to women. Where are the noble knights? The mighty men of valor? The honorable kind?

Take heart, my sisters reading, for there are still a few warrior-princes out there. Amongst the ones who try to be men in their own strength and under their own terms, are the mighty princes on their noble steeds who still stand for and fight for their King Jesus, who still defend the poor and the weak, who still protect innocence and purity, and who still have a tender heart and a warrior spirit.

There is one man, however, who is the ultimate picture of a Warrior Prince. In fact, he makes Prince Phillip in Sleeping Beauty look rather wimpy. He is the One who is the epitome of manhood, of knighthood, of strength and power. He is the One who is the shining example of love, faithfulness, tenderness, and wonder.

He is none other than Christ Jesus.

The few warrior-princes of our day are truly a sight to behold! But they are only small shadows of the ultimate Warrior-Prince. They are His workmanship and He has molded them into His likeness. But He is the true Warrior-Prince. It is Jesus who is the ultimate "mighty man of valor" who conquers sin, death, and the grave. It is Jesus who is the epitome of nobility and honor, who is full of grace and lovingkindness.

It is a lovely thing to have an earthly warrior-prince....a man who will serenade you, write you sweet sonnets, love you eternally, and fight with all the zeal of a knight for your heart.

But it is an even greater thing to be Christs'....to have the great King of Kings die for you, love you unconditionally, write psalms and love letters to you, intercede for you, never leave you or forsake you, conquer all for you, defeat all evil for you, and building a mansion for you where you will be with Him forever.

He's a Warrior.... and a Prince.

The Worldly Princess vs HIS Princess

* A worldly princess glorifies herself

* HIS princess glorofies her King

* A worldly princess cares about her needs & desires

* HIS princess is more concerned about the needs of others



* A worldly princess will be known for her comfortable way of life

* HIS princess will be remembered for her character and courage



* A worldly princess invests her time and talent in the here and now

* HIS princess invests in eternity




* The self-centered reign of a worldly princess will end

* The God-focused reign of HIS princess will last forever



Credit: Sheri Rose Shepherd in "My Prince Will Come"

The Day She Became A Princess

In a world where fantasy and fairy tales are smudged by reality, a certain simple maiden received a most wonderful gift! In a certain majestic kingdom, the Ruler and King looked upon His Son and decided to give him a bride. His eyes passed through all the fair maidens in the land seeking one who could make His Son complete.

As a common young girl, she was chosen to be the future wife of the Prince of the land. Handpicked by the King himself, she was most humbled. There were so many young maids in the kingdom certainly better than she. To be so highly favored was frightening, yet an honor most sought after by many others. But she was fearful and doubtful, so aware of her own shortcomings and imperfections. "Such a grand Prince deserves the very best," she said to herself. "And I am most definitely not the best!"

Denying her destiny, she ran away, trying desperately to leave the kingdom. Surely the King would not find her, for He had so many in His land to care for...

But the King, all-knowing and all-powerful, knew exactly where she was and sent His servant to bring her home again. He went out to seek her.

After running so long and trying to hide from her destiny, the young girl found herself lost in another world of empty hopes and dreams. She knew where she should be but was fearful and knew after running, she would never please the King or the handsome Prince. She felt a failure. The servant sought out the maiden and found her; he came upon her and in His quiet way, began drawing her home again.

"Why hide from who you really are?" he asked. "Why run from such an honor?"

"But I am unworthy!" she cried. "I am unclean, I am a failure. I am flawed and not worthy to touch the hem of the Princes' garment! And yet you say that He WANTS me?? It cannot be!"

"Ah, but it can be," he smiled. "The King and His Son know everything about you. The King has watched you grow from a little baby into the young woman you are becoming. He has seen your weaknesses and your faults, yet He sees in you a greatness. He sees you seated in His palace, helping to rule His Kingdom. He knows what you are capable of and who you are meant to be."

The young girl paused and listened. The servant told her how much the Prince loved and needed her, how the King had sent for her. He spoke of how it did not matter what she saw of herself, for the King looks at more than the outer appearance, or the past. Slowly, she began to believe the faithful servant. He was comforting and gentle.

"I will go," she said. "Lead me back to the Kingdom, please."

The servant smiled, took her hand and led the young girl back.

There was much rejoicing when they entered into the gates! All that were in the Kingdom celebrated the return of the future Princess. The servant led the young girl to the King and with an heavy heart, she repented for running away.

"My child," He said with a tender lovingness she had never seen before, "you are back!" He smiled as He took her in His arms and hugged her. "You are forgiven. It is no longer in my mind."

The young girl wept as she clung to her King.

"There, there," He said at last. "No more tears. It is time to celebrate! Go prepare to meet My Son."

Off in her chamber, she made herself ready. She had never laid eyes on her Prince but was in love with Him already from the stories the servant told her on the way back into the Kingdom. He was praised and admired by all. He was wonderful, mighty, and known to all as a ruler, a healer, a friend and a King. Handsome and strong, righteous and just, He brought peace to all. She could hardly wait for the wedding! The time was near.

It was time to meet the Prince.

All was still, the Kingdom was silent as she was escorted up to meet the Prince. She stood before the King and suddenly, there He was! The Prince! She could hardly breathe for He was more than what she had been told. He was fairer and mightier than she could have ever imagined! Her fears of unworthiness began to resurface but then she looked into His eyes and saw a love beyond any she had ever known or seen before. He wanted her!

As He stepped closer, He took her hand and said, "My love, finally you are here!" He held her close as He said, "I have a built a house for us, wait until you see it! Thank you for coming to Me!"

"But You chose me!" She replied.

"That I did, yes," He said with a smile. "But I would never force you into being mine. You were not made a puppet, you are a human with your own choices, your own decisions. Yes, I chose you...but you also chose Me..."

The King stepped forth and said to the maiden, "This is My Son, your bridegroom. He is called the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father. He is called Wonderful and Mighty. He is the Christ, His name is Jesus."

Then, looking out into all the land, He announced to the Kingdom, to the heavens and to all the earth, "and this is His beautiful, spotless, Bride..."

Taken at Five

Seventeen years ago, when I was five years of age, on a hot, humid night in northern Arkansas, I got engaged!

....Okay, I know you must be thinking "um....come again?" You're waiting for the punch-line, aren't you? Okay, well, to clear the air, I was not betrothed to a little boy at the age of five. So you can sleep well now. No, this engagement was a bit different than your everyday "down-on-one-knee-with-a-diamond" kind of thing. No, at the tender age of five, I became engaged to my heavenly Prince. Pssst! His name is Jesus. :)



If you read my last post, you'll know that this blog is all about my relationship with my Prince Jesus and how every detail of our earthly lives is a beautiful picture of our spirital life as well. Well, I'd like to share with you the night I became taken. :) The night I said a joyful "YES!" to Jesus. In other words, this is my testimony! ;)

As I mentioned before, it was a hot, humid, August night. My family and I, who travel and sing, were conducting a revival in the northern part of Arkansas. Growing up in a family who sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, talk about Jesus, read books about Jesus, watch movies about Jesus, and dedicate their lives telling others about Jesus.....it's bound to stick. :) I grew up knowing and telling Bible verses and Bible stories as early as a year and a half old. So by the age of five, I knew the sweet story of Jesus coming to this earth at Christmastime as a little baby, who grew up and never disobeyed his Mom or Dad (that was slightly shocking to my childlike brain), who did many miracles, and finally, for no reason, was put to death by his own countrymen. I used to get angry when I thought of those mean soldiers nailing my Jesus to a cross. As the days and months went by, the gospel story burned in my heart. And as I learned more, I was amazed. Jesus died for me? He came and died because I didn't clean my room when Mom told me to? He had to die because I did something wrong? It pierced my heart. He died so I wouldn't have to? He died so I could go to Heaven? Little by little, this precious love story worked its way into my five year old heart.

So on this particular night, during the revival services, I knew the time had come to truly thank God for what He did for me; to apologize for all the times I did something wrong and hurt him; to pledge my life and heart to Him, to live for Him forever. Later that night, at the foot of a bed, with my Dad and my Mom, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me.

So what does that have to do with being engaged? Think about it.

When you're twenty-two and your handsome fella comes to you, kneels down, presents you with a ring, and asks you to be his forever, and when you are swept away by his love, and you say "Yes!" then you are engaged! :) Congratulations. :) ;)

And likewise, when you're five years old and the King of all creation comes down to this earth, presents you with His body and blood - a sacrifice of Himself - and asks if you will accept Him, love Him, serve Him, and live for Him forever, and you are amazed at the depth of His great love, say "YES!!" ....then YOU, my friend, are engaged as well.

Earthly engagement is lovely but spiritual engagement? That's pure bliss! I hope, if you have not yet said "YES!" to this Heavenly Prince I speak about, then you will do so soon. Believe you me, it's a love story that is quite amazing.

I'm a Bride!

Hello everyone! I entitled this blog “The King’s Bride” for two reasons, both of which I’ll happily explain to you.

Firstly, I am a Christian, redeemed and loved by my Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible calls Him many names: Lord, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Emmanuel….but it also calls Him King of Kings. And we, who are saved, are His bride. Spiritually. :) I am His bride. And hopefully you are too. :)

Secondly, I am a bride in the human, earthly way also. I am currently engaged to a noble prince; a warrior in the army of our God and King. He is strong, romantic, poetic, tender, loving, and practically everything a girl could ask for.….and I’m his bride. :)

And so here we are.

The purpose of this blog is to magnify my King and my heavenly lover, who loves me unconditionally; who came and died for me, who redeemed me from sin, who robed me in white, and who is coming for me one day soon! Of course, I’ll also throw in tidbits about my earthly wedding planning, my wonderful family, my sweet friends, my ministry, my goals, my passions….my blessed life.

So welcome to this blog! It’s a sneak peek into my heart and my mind. It’s the “parlor room” of my life. Hope you will be blessed and inspired but, most of all, I hope you will draw ever closer to the King yourself. And if you are not His bride, I do hope you’ll come to know Him and accept His proposal. :)

Coming Soon!