First, I want to apologize for sounding a little too politically motivated. I really try to avoid governmental politics as much as possible. I think it frustrates my dad that I don't care more about the way our government operates and that Obama could be the worst thing to ever happen to America. I often wander if my pastor knows that I am politically apathetic. I don't think its generational, but it very well could be. I can't really explain my thoughts on the subject. I would just rather trust that God knows what He is doing and that at the end of the day I can rest in His care no matter the circumstances. So, all of this to say, I did not mean to sound politically charged yesterday.
Now, on to more important things. Namely, my wife, Christi. Today marks the start of our third year of marriage. Or, if you like, it is our second anniversary. And, let me tell you, it has been a great two years. I could tell you about our wedding and I could tell you about our dating relationship, but I think the most telling thing about why our short time (comparatively) has been so great is because of how Christi approached the whole thing. I know, different strokes for different folks, but I think Christi's attitude in the months leading up to our wedding has been the biggest difference maker.
If you have met Christi, you know that she is generally laid back about most things. She is indecisive at times, but mostly because she doesn't get worked up over much. When it came to planning our wedding, she was the anti-bridezilla. I do not think that I could have picked a better future wife. Maybe it was because we were getting married in a church 4 hours from where we lived, so she had to trust things to fall into place. Or maybe it was because her aunt, the preacher's wife, had teamed with her mother to take care of all the details. Maybe it was a combination of the two, but somehow she was able to not worry about much of anything. Well, that somehow is in a little statement that she would make several times in the months leading up to our wedding.
See how anti-bridezilla this is. She would say, "Why worry about one day? I'm not preparing for a wedding, I'm preparing for my marriage." Do you get that subtle change of focus? Where most brides have "their" day and everything is about them and being perfect and being in the spotlight for a few hours, Christi wanted nothing more than for our wedding ceremony to be a time of worship of the God who created us, saved us, and brought us together. It wasn't about her. It was about Him. And she knew that the day would come and go, with only pictures and a video to remember it by, but that our marriage would last for the rest of our lives. She wanted to prepare herself for that. She wanted to live in the grace of God and allow that grace to form our marriage.
See, that's the marriage picture that we see with Christ and His Church. The church is the bride, but the wedding is not about the bride. The wedding is about the Father. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost (John 10.10) and he sought to honor his Father by bringing sinners such as I to his side. The wedding is about the future, the union of Christ with the lost, the salvation of sinners, the sanctification of the children of God, and the everlasting bond it creates. Much the same way, my marriage to Christi is not for me, nor is it for her. But it is for the glory of God, our Father. It is for us to demonstrate the life lived in Christ. It is for her to hold me accountable and aid me in growing in grace as I am sanctified in Christ. It is for me to lift her up to God, to support her every need, and for me to lead her in righteousness as her husband.
Today is a special day. Today is a day that is marked with joy for Christi and I. Today is a day that symbolizes more than a ceremony that took place at a church two years ago. Today is a day that bears witness to two lives surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the ministry to which we have been called.
I love you, Christi.
Now, on to more important things. Namely, my wife, Christi. Today marks the start of our third year of marriage. Or, if you like, it is our second anniversary. And, let me tell you, it has been a great two years. I could tell you about our wedding and I could tell you about our dating relationship, but I think the most telling thing about why our short time (comparatively) has been so great is because of how Christi approached the whole thing. I know, different strokes for different folks, but I think Christi's attitude in the months leading up to our wedding has been the biggest difference maker.
If you have met Christi, you know that she is generally laid back about most things. She is indecisive at times, but mostly because she doesn't get worked up over much. When it came to planning our wedding, she was the anti-bridezilla. I do not think that I could have picked a better future wife. Maybe it was because we were getting married in a church 4 hours from where we lived, so she had to trust things to fall into place. Or maybe it was because her aunt, the preacher's wife, had teamed with her mother to take care of all the details. Maybe it was a combination of the two, but somehow she was able to not worry about much of anything. Well, that somehow is in a little statement that she would make several times in the months leading up to our wedding.
See how anti-bridezilla this is. She would say, "Why worry about one day? I'm not preparing for a wedding, I'm preparing for my marriage." Do you get that subtle change of focus? Where most brides have "their" day and everything is about them and being perfect and being in the spotlight for a few hours, Christi wanted nothing more than for our wedding ceremony to be a time of worship of the God who created us, saved us, and brought us together. It wasn't about her. It was about Him. And she knew that the day would come and go, with only pictures and a video to remember it by, but that our marriage would last for the rest of our lives. She wanted to prepare herself for that. She wanted to live in the grace of God and allow that grace to form our marriage.
See, that's the marriage picture that we see with Christ and His Church. The church is the bride, but the wedding is not about the bride. The wedding is about the Father. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost (John 10.10) and he sought to honor his Father by bringing sinners such as I to his side. The wedding is about the future, the union of Christ with the lost, the salvation of sinners, the sanctification of the children of God, and the everlasting bond it creates. Much the same way, my marriage to Christi is not for me, nor is it for her. But it is for the glory of God, our Father. It is for us to demonstrate the life lived in Christ. It is for her to hold me accountable and aid me in growing in grace as I am sanctified in Christ. It is for me to lift her up to God, to support her every need, and for me to lead her in righteousness as her husband.
Today is a special day. Today is a day that is marked with joy for Christi and I. Today is a day that symbolizes more than a ceremony that took place at a church two years ago. Today is a day that bears witness to two lives surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the ministry to which we have been called.
I love you, Christi.
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Hey! I want to hear from you. Let's bridge dialogue as followers of Christ and not followers of the world. I am eager to see how we can grow together!