They kissed twice!........

Those are the words that a little boy said to me yesterday at our local grocery store when we saw the their picture on the front page of the Newspaper.

Yesterday was a special day for the people of England, and for my daughter and I.. It was the day of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Bekah and I got up at 4:00 am to begin watching it.

There was so much excitement! So much joy! So much hope for the future! So many glowing smiles and sure signs of love!

What is it about this wedding that gets so many excited? What about any wedding does the same thing?

I think there are several reasons:

• The expectation of what the bride will be wearing, the colors, the flowers, etc....
• It's a wonderful chance to dress up, celebrate, eat at good meal, and CAKE!!!!
• The promise of true love.
• But most of all the people who watched William & Kate's wedding or any wedding for that matter are hopeful that these two will be the odds. That they will understand the beauty in marriage, and truly live until death do us part.

It was evident (at least to me) that William and Kate love each other. I have also seen this evidence in many weddings I have gone too. So what goes wrong? Why do so many people stand in a church before God and pledge to love one another til death do us part, and then divorce?

• Could it be that they don't really realize what it is they are doing?
  
• Could it be that even though they say the words, they are not hearing or believing them?
• Are they truly ready to put the other persons needs above their own?
  
• Are they aligned with God and allowing him to be the head of their lives in ALL things?
• Do they truly understand that marriage is a covenant (not a legal contract) that they are entering into with God as a witness (Malachi 2:14).

At the wedding yesterday the Bishop of Canterbury did (what I believe) was a great job of instructing this young couple in what marriage is:

• Marriage is a covenant created & ordained by the Creator of the universe and He is a witness to it.
• It was meant for procreation.
  
• It was meant for the support and help of the couple.
• It was mean to be Until death do us part.
• It was meant to show the Mystery of Christ and His Church(Ephesians 5:31-33).
  

Are we (The Church) adorning ourselves for our Bridegroom as a bride does for her groom? Where is our excitement for His return?

Oh the beauty and promise of a wedding! Oh the mystery of the relationship between husband & wife; and Christ and His Church.

My heart calls out to all who are married & struggling; looking to get married in the future, or don't even want to have a thing to do with marriage. Look at the Author or marriage and trust him with your life & marriage.

I pray William and Kate have a long and blessed life together! I pray that for everyone that enters the marriage covenant.

Call me Hephzibah

There are times in our lives when we are a new creation. The first being when we are conceived(Psalm 139:13-16). The second when we accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ(2 Corinthians 5:17), and the third when God does a trans formative work in your life.
Today in our study of Isaiah in Bible Study Fellowship, we studied Isaiah 62. In this chapter Isaiah is prophesying about the transformation of Zion from a Forsaken and Desolate place to a place called Hephzibah (My Delight is in her) and Beulah (your land shall be married). God has shown them who they are (rebellious children); and what they've done (continually sinned against God, worshiped idols, and denied God's control). He reminds them to look back and see what God has done for them and now hear what God will do in the future. God was going to make Zion beautiful again! He was not only going to restore Israel, but give a double portion (Isaiah 61:7) of grace to them.
We discussed in small group the other times when names were changed: Abram to Abraham; Sarai to Sarah; Jacob to Israel; Simeon to Peter; Saul to Paul. When each of these people were given a new name God did an amazing work in them. Abram was a pagan; Abraham a God follower and a man of faith; Sarai was barren; Sarah fruitful and a mother of many nations; Jacob wrestled with God; Israel rendered himself to God; Simeon was weak; Peter became a rock; Saul was a murderer of Christians; Paul was a messenger of the Good News to Christians.
When a name was changed it signified a person transformed by God.
This touched me in a profound way. I desire to be used of God for his glory. I believe he is doing a trans formative work in my life as well. This year in BSF God has shown me again and again His Sovereignty, and how all things (good and bad) work together for the good of those who love Him. There have been many lessons, but in those lessons, best of all has been a transformation of my heart!
I am blessed beyond measure and now more then ever I desire to do God's will, whatever that may be. He has redeemed me and called me by name, I am His (Isaiah 43:1). I am precious in His eyes and honored, and He loves me (Isaiah 43:4)!! So that being said:

Call me Hephzibah!

For I am a life that was changed and His delight is in me!!!!!

What would your name be?