This past weekend I had the unique/exciting/terrifying opportunity to “stage” for a wedding with my friend, and business partner, Lori.
Neither one of us even knew that was a thing.
Basically, we freed up the mother of the bride to focus on her daughter and leave the details of decorating and arranging to us. The venue was gorgeous. It’s hard to not be when you’re located in Napa, California. Trees and vineyards and views for miles. Sprawling grounds with various areas to eat, drink and be merry. The perfect setting to make memories with family and friends that will last a lifetime.
And no, I didn’t get one single photo of what we did. Of course I didn’t. Attention to details did not include me remembering to capture the day. It’s how I roll. 🙁
But I can show you the Youtube version of this gorgeous spot in the hills of wine country –
Not bad, right? 🙂
I didn’t get to attend the actual ceremony, but I envisioned what makes me cry at every wedding. The beautiful bride, the handsome groom. The smiles and tears. The recited vows for a lifetime together. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In good times and in bad. ‘Til death do us part. The exchange of rings on trembling hands.
But my all time favorite is at the end when the groom takes his lovely bride’s face in his hands, looks into her eyes and kisses her. Tenderly. Passionately. Symbolic of his love, devotion and commitment to her. Her soul is his and his is hers. “As long as we both shall live.”
Gets me every. single. time.
Sniff, sniff. Where’s that kleenex box when I need it?
You know what else I love?
I love that Jesus calls those who love Him His bride. Have you ever stopped to think about Him as your Groom? That’s how He describes His love for us. It’s absolutely breathtaking when you can imagine it.
What does that even mean?
Go back to the Youtube video above and listen to the song again. Only this time, listen as if Jesus were singing these words to you. Wow.
He is the lover of your soul. Your passionate Protector and Provider. When He said, “I give all of me” He proved it by going to the cross. For you. His bride.
The ultimate “I Do.”
When He declared His vows to you, He did it in the form of the Promises found scattered like wedding rose petals throughout His love letter to you.
And just like that groom on Saturday, He gave you His name to wear for all eternity. That diamond ring of undying, unconditional love that cannot be undone.
When He takes your face in His hands and gazes into your eyes, peering deep into your soul, He beams at His bride that He sees in radiant white. Beautiful, pure. Spotless. Perfect.
If you do nothing else today do this: Close your eyes and know the love of your Groom. Know that you are ever on HIs mind. In His heart. That He will do anything to protect you. To provide for you. To pursue your heart and take your relationship to the deepest level.
That His commitment to you is eternal, unwavering and faithful. That no outside force or circumstance, no poor behavior on your part can diminish it one bit.
Understand that He is in this for the long haul and is eager to enjoy every adventure, endure every heartache and walk every path with you until the day He brings you to the beautiful place He has personally prepared for you in eternity.
You are His and He is yours. Forever and ever and ever.
Ephesians 5:25-27 MSG – Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.
Ephesians 3:17-19 – And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Romans 8:38-39 – And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
