Captured Hearts and Weddings

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee!" ~Jer. 31:3

Hello there everyone! 

This week has been busy as it's almost time for my sweet cousin to be married!  I'm so excited for her and her groom!  I'm honored to walk down the aisle as her bridesmaid "paving the way" before she enters!  I love seeing the groom up on the stage eagerly awaiting the entrance of the one who has captured his heart forever!

I'm excited and look forward to capturing some guy's heart someday and walking down the aisle to him too, and I trust God's heart and His timing for when that will be!  As much as I look forward to my wedding day someday though - I'm reminded by God's heart that a wedding and marriage, even in all it's glory that He designed it to be, is in actuality only a glimpse of the marriage feast of the Lamb that He is preparing and only a glimpse of the vastness of His love for His bride - the church - His people!!!!

Whether you're single, or married remember -YOU, dear one, have captured God's heart.  His joy over His bride is Holy and breathtaking!  If you want to be "swept off your feet " ;) with truth ~please take a few minutes and read this excerpt from the book titled below. (*emphasis added)

When Christ Comes ~ by Max Lucado

"...Look long enough into the eyes of our Savior and, there, too, you will see a bride.  Dressed in fine linen, Clothed in pure grace.  From the wreath in her hair to the clouds at her feet, she is royal;  she is the princess, She is the bride.  His bride.  Walking toward him, she is not yet with him.   But he sees her, he awaits her, he longs for her. 

"Who could bear to live without her?" you hear him whisper.  And who is that bride?  Who is this beauty who occupies the heart of Jesus?...

...You are.  You have captured the heart of God. "As a man rejoices over his new wife, so your God will rejoice over you" (Isa. 62:5).   

The challenge is to remember that.  To meditate on it.  To focus on it.  To allow his love to change the way you look at you.

Do you ever feel unnoticed?  New clothes and styles may help for a while.  But if you want permanent change, learn to see yourself as God sees you:  "He has covered me with clothes of salvation and wrapped me with a coat of goodness, like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding, like a bride dressed in jewels" (Isa. 61:10).

Does your self-esteem ever sag?  When it does, remember what you are worth.  "You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb" (I Pet. 1:18-19).

Are you concerned whether the love will last?  You needn't be.  "It is not our love for God, it is God's love for us in sending his Son to be the way to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10).

Ever feel like you have nothing?  Just look at the gifts he has given you.  He has sent his angels to care for you, his Holy Spirit to dwell in you, his church to encourage you, and his word to guide you.  You have privileges only a fiance could have.  Anytime you speak, he listens; make a request and he responds.  He will never let you be tempted too much or stumble too far.  Let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it.  Let a love sonnet appear on your lips, and he is there to hear it.  As much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more.

He is building a house for you.  And with every swing of the hammer and cut of the saw, he's dreaming of the day he carries you over the threshold.  "There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am" (John 14:2-3).

You have been chosen by Christ.  You are released from your old life in your old house, and he has claimed you as his beloved. "Then where is he?"  you might ask.  "Why hasn't he come?" 

There is only one answer.  His bride is not ready.  She is still being prepared. 

Engaged people are obsessed with preparation.  The right dress.  The right weight.  The right hair and the right tux.  They want everything to be right.  Why?  So their fiance will marry them?  No.  Just the opposite.  They want to look their best because their fiance is marrying them! 

The same is true for us.  We want to look our best for Christ.  We want our hearts to be pure and our thoughts to be clean.  We want our faces to shine with grace and our eyes to sparkle with love.  We want to be prepared. 

Why?  In hopes that he will love us?  No.  Just the opposite.  Because he already does. 

You are spoken for.  You are engaged, set apart, called out, a holy bride...You have been chosen for his castle..."  

YOU HAVE CAPTURED HIS HEART. 

Anticipate His coming for you and live excitedly in the truth of who you are!  And trust the One Who loves you most to write your love story on earth, to write each chapter after your love story begins and hold your future because He designed it to be a reflection of His love and with Him the best is now and always to come!

Blessings to you with all my heart - celebrate love!

~Bri