Bride of Christ

Weddings weddings everywhere...

it's crazy.

This time next week, I'll be all glammed up in a floor length red gown, hair done up with curls draping down, makeup on my face, diamonds around my neck, freshly painted finger nails, and 2 inch black heels thrown in some corner as I dance away celebrating the marriage of Ms. Amanda Cavender to my new brother in law, Mr. Elliot Bennett. I hope that the tears will have settled by this time.

It seems that rings are beginning to pop up on fingers left and right. And I'm not talking about people I know from a distance, but good friends. One of my roommates from last year called me last night to tell me that her boyfriend had just proposed.

That's 4 good friends now... (not including the 3 that tied the knot this past year).

Usually I would think that all this wedding talk would get me all sad because I'm not in a relationship and blah blah blah... but thankfully, that is not even close to how I'm feeling.

Thank the Lord.

Don't get me wrong, yes I do want to get married and yes, whenever I find out who that amazing man is, it's going to be simply incredible...

but all I can think about amongst this "season of weddings" is how I am (and you are) constantly being perused by the greatest Husband I (we) could ever have... by the One who calls me (you)beloved... and by the One who calls me (us) His bride. How absolutely amazing is that...?!

I get butterflies and teary eyed when I sit and try to fathom how madly in love with me (you) the Lord is.

Oh how I wish I loved Him more.

The Father has renamed us, just as in Isaiah He renamed Jerusalem:

Never again will you be called the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his own.

Wow.

I love Song of Solomon because it is a beautiful book that displays a relationship between a husband and a wife, but even more so it represents the passion and love the Father so heavily feels for you (and me). How amazing.

No one could ever love you more,

Bride of Christ.

THAT Moment

Do you ever remember that moment of actually understanding [something]? Not just understanding in your head, but understanding in your heart?

A time when you've always been aware [of this something] and you're able to repeat it over and over again to yourself and others, but it hadn't yet grasped your heart...

That moment when finally [that something] pierces your heart so hard that tears of joy and thankfulness flow out, because you finally get it...

That moment when you feel the release of the chains from around your heart, and feel nothing but the Spirit overwhelming you with an aroma of freedom...

... The moment when [that something] suddenly seems so far from important, that all you desire to do is drop to your knees and shout praises to the King...

... that moment...

That moment when you begin to remember what... Who... you live for. Suddenly everything you've been worrying about no longer matters and all that matters is falling madly in love with a Father, who has never once stopped pursuing you... or me...

That moment when everything comes together because He is King.

That moment when you are so close to Him that you can smell His presence and you can taste His goodness... that you can see the Kingdom.

... That moment when He reaches His hand out to you, and this time you couldn't bare not reaching back.

The moment when all you are able to see is the One.

That beautiful moment...

I love that moment.

Baby Names

So a friend of mine and I were talking about how many kids we each want to have and what names we really like... Since I want boys (along with one girl), I expressed my love for a few male Biblical names: Caleb, Elijah, and Noah.

"But I don't know if I could be that lady who names all her kids after people in the Bible... I'd turn into the mom from 7th Heaven... Matthew, Mary, Lucy... Lucifer?, Simon, Ruth, David, and Samuel. I don't know..."

My friend then went on to tell me about a family she taught swimming lessons to for 2 years. They had four boys, and I kid you not, their names were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

C'mon.

So what were they going to do if they had a fifth child? Name him Acts? What if they had a girl? Still name her Acts?

So I got this great idea... I'm just going to become one of "those mom's", but I won't use any of the common Biblical names like James or Peter. If you're gonna be "that lady" you might as well just go all out...

Habakkuk perhaps? Haggai? Jehoiachin? Or one of my favorite, Xerxes?

Philemon is a great possibility as well.

Oh Christians. They make me laugh.

Side note: I just found out that my name means "to protect". Good stuff. What does your name mean?

Good ol' Davy

Psalm 69 always seems to leave me in awe. David's love for the Lord and his faithfulness to Him is astonishing.

David had been over taken with depression and pain, yet he still lifted praises to his Creator. At this moment in his life, he felt nothing but sadness, yet he continually said "Your great love for me", "Your love is so good", "Your great kindness"...

Though David saw no result of God answering his cry, never once did he think the Lord would not be there to save him from his depression. He never once walked away from Him amidst his hurting.

There is so much I could say...

The cry and faithfulness of David:

1 Save me, O God,

for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
2 Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;

I can't find a foothold to stand on.

I am in deep water,

and the floods overwhelm me.
3 I am exhausted from crying for help;

my throat is parched and dry.

My eyes are swollen with weeping,

waiting for my God to help me.
4 Those who hate me without cause

are more numerous than the hairs on my head.

These enemies who seek to destroy me

are doing so without cause.

They attack me with lies,

demanding that I give back what I didn't steal.
5 O God, you know how foolish I am;

my sins cannot be hidden from you.
6 Don't let those who trust in you stumble because of me,

O Sovereign LORD Almighty.

Don't let me cause them to be humiliated,

O God of Israel.
7 For I am mocked and shamed for your sake;

humiliation is written all over my face.
8 Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me;

they treat me like a stranger.
9 Passion for your house burns within me,

so those who insult you are also insulting me.
10 When I weep and fast before the LORD,

they scoff at me.
11 When I dress in sackcloth to show sorrow,

they make fun of me.
12 I am the favorite topic of town gossip,

and all the drunkards sing about me.
13 But I keep right on praying to you, LORD,

hoping this is the time you will show me favor.

In your unfailing love, O God,

answer my prayer with your sure salvation.
14 Pull me out of the mud;

don't let me sink any deeper!

Rescue me from those who hate me,

and pull me from these deep waters.
15 Don't let the floods overwhelm me,

or the deep waters swallow me,

16 Answer my prayers, O LORD,

for your unfailing love is wonderful.

Turn and take care of me,

for your mercy is so plentiful.
17 Don't hide from your servant;

answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!
18 Come and rescue me;

free me from all my enemies.
19 You know the insults I endure--

the humiliation and disgrace.

You have seen all my enemies

and know what they have said.
20 Their insults have broken my heart,

and I am in despair.

If only one person would show some pity;

if only one would turn and comfort me.
21 But instead, they give me poison for food;

they offer me sour wine to satisfy my thirst.
22 Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare,

and let their security become a trap.
23 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,

and let their bodies grow weaker and weaker.
24 Pour out your fury on them;

consume them with your burning anger.
25 May their homes become desolate

and their tents be deserted.
26 To those you have punished,

they add insult to injury;

they scoff at the pain of those you have hurt.
27 Pile their sins up high,

and don't let them go free.
28 Erase their names from the Book of Life;

don't let them be counted among the righteous.
29 I am suffering and in pain.

Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
30 Then I will praise God's name with singing,

and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please the LORD more than sacrificing an ox

or presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.

Let all who seek God's help live in joy.
33 For the LORD hears the cries of his needy ones;

he does not despise his people who are oppressed.
34 Praise him, O heaven and earth,

the seas and all that move in them.
35 For God will save Jerusalem

and rebuild the towns of Judah.

His people will live there

and take possession of the land.
36 The descendants of those who obey him

will inherit the land,

and those who love him will live there in safety.

Revival vs. Tea Party (you pick)

As Christians, our responsibility is to be witnesses for Jesus - not to be politically correct people pleasers. I like what an English Bishop once said, "Everywhere Paul went there was either a revival or a revolution. Everywhere I go they serve tea."

I hate tea if you get my drift!

Enough said.

Amen.

Stoked

So... I'm totally stoked for Friday morning at 12:01am. Why? Because of this:

Yes that's right folks... myself and some friends are going to see the midnight showing of The Chronicles of Narnia. I've never been this excited to see a movie before (except maybe when I was in 7th grade and Titanic came out...) but this is a tad bit different.

This is MY Matrix... this is MY Lord of the Rings... this is MY Harry Potter... this could be one of the only movies I ever buy tickets for a week in advance and attend the midnight showing. But, I will not, and I repeat NOT, be dressing up. No lion costume, no witch costume, no faun costume, no beaver costume, and absolutely no wardrobe costume.

I'm so giddy... I feel like a little kid again.

happiness/joy #76-100

here's the final list for ya, #76-100:

76.) spending time with good girlfriends
77.) art museums
78.) visiting my best friend in cali
79.) prayer walks
80.) getting a foot massage
81.) when my sisters and i chase eachother around the house (yes… we chase eachother… screaming, laughing, hitting)
82.) going to professional baseball games, and eating peanuts with a huge soda
83.) driving into a big city (ex: chicago) late at night
84.) the words “i love you”
85.) oreo’s and peanut butter
86.) laying on a blanket late at night looking up at the stars
87.) 24
88.) witnessing Christ transform lives
89.) long funny voicemails from friends
90.) sleepovers
91.) junior high kids
92.) walking into a newly painted room
93.) feeding ducks
94.) seeing a dad playing with his kids (especially when it’s obvious that he’s a fairly new father)
95.) petting huge furry dogs
96.) falling asleep outside under the sun
97.) making snow angels
98.) holding and playing with a baby
99.) dmc’s (deep meaningful convsersations)
100.) sitting on the very top of a mountain, above the clouds on a sunny day staring out at God’s gorgeous creation