The Wedding

My baby girl Emily was just married on June 18 to an incredible young man, Paul Sliwa in Palmer, Alaska.  The emotions I experienced were joy, happiness and gratitude for the grace of God.  It has been beautiful to watch the journey they lived out through their courtship and engagement.  Living for the applause from Heaven and running counter culture to a generation in which purity, honor and commitment are no longer core values leading up to marriage.  After the amazing celebration (hours of dancing and laughter) and reflecting on what I was privileged to experience the Holy Spirit prompted me with the memory of another wedding that is soon to take place.  When what is written in Revelation 19:7 becomes reality . “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”   I had spent the previous month in Peru, traveling to many churches (the bride of Christ) where the love the people had for God and each other was tangible, pure and vibrant.  When individuals spend more time criticizing the Bride of Jesus than loving who Jesus loves, my spirit grieves.  Jesus loves His bride, He bled for her, died for her and has the greatest investment in all of history as a groom.  Why would we tear down who Jesus loves?  In the posts to come I will be sharing testimonies of redeeming love that will encourage you and elevate your view.  There is a bride that is making herself ready in the Amazon Jungle and we can rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!  Thank you Paul & Emily for being a modern day  picture of Revelation 19:7.