January 13, 2014 - "Here Comes The Bride"

Time to begin another week. I am up early with some grandma responsibilities in front of me, but standing and believing for healing at 5am to be freed from a head cold on top of grandma duty is tough. Any natural suggestions to unclog my head and relieve the itchy throat which leads to "barking?" Anyway, I am glad to begin my week having my coffee with you. Here's you morning party favor: if you have not heard the song "Lifeline" from the Hillsong Young and Free album you should visit i Tunes today. The words and vibe are "youthy" but speak DEEPLY to my life. Let me know what you think. I have been to two different weddings the first 2 weekends of this year. My daughter and I have an events company and were delighted to host one of the events while last weekend, we simply went to show our love to the precious couple. There were many cool elements to both - some serious and thought provoking while others were light-hearted and funny. (but how many of you know that laughter is good?) Yes, there's all the pomp and circumstance and months of preparation, but this past weekend I had a refresher course in the power of seeing a groom's face as he lifted his head to see his bride. Time stood still..... "Will you all rise for the entrance of the Bride," means that everyone turns to see this picture of perfection who has made herself ready to meet the bridegroom. I love to stare as everyone else, but Saturday my eyes were drawn from the majestic bride to the reaction of the bridegroom. Help me. I could see him wiping tears and covering his eyes as he connected with this woman he would spend the rest of his life with. What a pure and perfect picture, in my mind, of God's journey with His creation as the Bride of Christ. When the Bible speaks of all the angels rejoicing when one is saved, I wonder if that could represent the engagement phase of the journey. Salvation means we said YES to God and YES to being the bride of Christ. Powerful! Then there is the phase of preparation as the bride makes herself ready seated right within the circumstances of life. Sometimes this feels impossible. However, we must constantly revisit the truth that this life is only a momentary event compared to the paradise that God, the bridegroom, has prepared for us. We look beyond the horizon of this life. We are informed in Revelation 22:17 that the bride is the church, the true Christians (AMP) and she waits expectantly for the bridegroom. In Revelation 19:7 we read, "Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself." That's where the church finds herself today, isn't it? (we'll talk more about that) But I want to simply ask you to consider today that when God even thinks of spending all eternity with you, with me, the tears well in His eyes and an expression none of us has ever seen emerges. That's His BEST plan. We are preparing to meet Him. But I tell you, with all that is within me, I absolutely believe that no mortal can conceive God's reaction as we enter eternity and His plans for the wedding begin. Let all Heaven rejoice! I hope that word picture causes you to stop and praise Him this Monday morning as you see yourself in that celebration. Coffee tomorrow? PK