Thursday, August 2, 2007

Celebrate Good Times - Come On!

My mom recently went to a wedding shower where each guest was invited to give the bride-to-be a piece of advice. Mommy asked what advice to give; I told her to tell the girl to "Have fun being married!" When Chris and I were engaged, most of the advice we got was serious advice about various issues that might come up and try to ruin our marriage - all good advice - but NOTHING was said about consciously having fun being married. I was even told by a well-meaning person, "Marriage is just basic survival!" So I talked to my mom tonight and asked how the shower went. She told me that everyone else's advice was very serious. One lady had even told this bride-to-be that "Marriage is not about happiness, it is about holiness." How dismal to say something like that at a party celebrating the fact that this girl is getting married! Marriage IS about holiness and growing closer to Jesus. But it is ALSO about happiness and joy! The Bible talks about spouses rejoicing in each other and about celebrating marriage numerous times:
* "Rejoice in the wife of your youth" - Proverbs 5:18
* "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favor from the Lord" - Proverbs 18:22
* This whole book is about a bride and groom reveling in each other - Song of Solomon
* "I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!...I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels" - Isaiah 61:10
* Jesus attends a wedding celebration and even miraculously provides more wine for the party when the supply runs out - John 2
* "They will say it is wrong to be married...Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it. We may receive it gladly, with thankful hearts. For we know it is made holy by the word of God and prayer" - 1 Timothy 4:3-5
* "Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd,...: 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself...' And the angel said, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.' "-Revelation 19:6-9
* The wedding/celebration of the bride of Christ and the Lord - Revelation 21 & 22
The ladies at this shower love the bride-to-be very much and want the best for her. But I think it is vital to enter a marriage knowing about and being prepared for not only the tough times ahead, but also the joys, fun, laughter and sweet companionship that God intends us to have. Passion and Purity, by Elisabeth Elliot, is full of wisdom and advice about living a holy happy marriage! "Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God (Jim Elliot)." And I would have to agree wholeheartedly!!

3 comments:

Courtney said...

I totally agree with you about the marriage advice stuff.

Thanks for the comment on Renee Grace. Please keep Rodney in your prayers. He will go visit her grave and the family that took care of her tomorrow (saturday).

I hope you're doing well!

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that you still want to keep me after these 7 plus long drawn out years.:)

Courtney said...

Hey There! Rodney comes home on Friday. His plane is suppose to get into Charlotte around 9:45pm. I totally can't wait to see him. I miss him so much.

After Sunday I'll be able to share what's going on with us. Just please pray for us this weekend. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much for caring!! It means A LOT!!