...and the two shall become one!

"Love is patient, love is kind..." --

"...and the two shall become one..." --

"...but the greatest of these is love."

So, I am in midst of 'wedding plans' for my sister-in-love and her fiance. We have been checking more off of our 'to do list' lately which is good. Yesterday we secured the rental of the tuxes for the 'men'. What fun it is actually planning for a wedding. The 'girls' finally picked out and purchased the fabric for their dresses a couple weeks ago (or last week). I am creating and designing the wedding invites and other "papercraft" items that are needed. We have picked out and purchased the flowers (they are artificial as we can make them way ahead of time, and know they are done, as I am involved in this creation process as well). They (the lovely couple) obviously have the hall rented & the caterer, and the church rented and the plans are underway for the BIG day. WOW! It brings me back to remembrance of my wedding day, and all the plans it took for just ONE day to come off without a hitch... or seemed to come off to others without a hitch. It was funny that I was so organized, and yet forgot one simple thing like 'Boutonnières'. Ha ha! Did we end up without boutonnieres? NO, because I have a great Mom. What fun it must have been for my Mom to go to the floral shop to purchase 5+ little flower decorations for a wedding THAT day. I of course designed and created my floral bouquets, and wanted real roses for the men that day, but forgot totally about them, until I was asked where they were on the morning of my wedding day. Anyway, it's really funny that we put so much work and tiresome stress sometimes on our lives, just for one day... one 'seems to be called a' perfect day, and yet leave some things to the 'last minute' causing more stress.


As we are coming into the 'last days', it gets you thinking more about the 'really' perfect day, when our Prince & King of Kings will come for our 'wedding'. Our earthly preparations and plans for our earthly weddings are nothing compared to the preparations and plans we should be making towards our spiritual heavenly wedding. Too many of us are leaving it to "the last minute". According to "BEST OF LIFE Magazine", (see http://www.emotionofgod.com/saybygifts.html and click on 'Get your FREE issue here') in the article 'Increase the Measure of Your Faith' (pg 12-15), the author compares our planning and preparation for the 'Wedding of the Lamb' with that of an engaged woman. It states on page 14 and continuing on pg 15 that "She believes her fiance's promise of marriage, and begins to make the necessary preparations. She does not wait until the day of her wedding to see if it's true and then start organizing things. It can't be like that, it would be a catastrophe for her wedding day having such a short time to prepare! However, because she has a close relationship with her fiance, she knows his character, his heart, his love for her and how much he values her, she can have the confidence to prepare for her wedding day knowing it will come to pass."


Too many of us have lost the faith, or not even used the faith that we have been given to trust in the promise of the 'return of the King' for our wedding day. Too many people today are in the spot where they feel that God does not exist, or maybe He does exist, but I can wait to receive Him and live life to its best (according to the World's view of 'best') before that 'wedding day' does come. WOW! Looking at the words of the article above, why on earth would you start preparing on that day? This brings us to the parable of the ten virgins. {I have been in the editing version of a devotional regarding this parable, due to Sunday school lessons and the revelations of Holy Spirit - will link to it here, when complete} In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a story of ten virgins who are preparing to meet the bridegroom. Making a short story even shorter, 5 of the virgins didn't bring enough oil with them to keep their lamps lit. They had to go out to purchase more oil, and return to find the other 5 virgins gone inside, and the door to the wedding banquet was shut and locked. WOW! A major eye-opener, thanks to Holy Spirit! We need to be prepared!

Take time right now to be sure YOU are prepared, and not rushing around the 'day of the wedding' to prepare for something that you might just miss. Did you know that it's been said that 'it takes more faith to believe there's not a God, then to believe that there is a God'. It's also been said that 'If you believe in God, and in the end find out He's not real, then you haven't lost anything. But, if you don't believe in God, and in the end find out He is real, then you have lost everything!' (or something to that extent, I had to paraphrase).

Pray that prayer today, read my "Salvation Prayer" poem, and talk to God in your own words. No words that I could give you could be more powerful than you using your OWN words to describe your feelings to God.

Salvation Prayer Poem...

Everyone knows "God loves you", how many believe it's true?

You want to have 'eternal life', here's what you should do...

ADMIT to God you are a sinner, 'cause all humans are.

REPENT from the sin, and turn away, you gotta' raise the bar.

(Romans 3:23)

The wages of sin, is death for sure, but God has made a way,

He sent his SON so you could live, an ETERNAL life someday.

(Romans 6:23 & John 3:16)

BELIEVE in Him, God and His Son, & Holy Spirit too,

believe that Jesus gave HIS OWN LIFE, all for me & you.

CONFESS your faith in Jesus as your Saviour and your friend

The blessings you will receive & His love will never end.

(Romans 10:9&10)

But one thing you must REMEMBER, the road itself is long

There will be STORMS, & rough spots, but He will make you Strong.

(Philippians 4:13)

So finally one day, hopefully, after you've lived til' old

You can press on and win, your medal made of GOLD!

c M.H. 2010

May God bless you as you begin or continue your preparations! Remember to refill your lamps, and be full of His Spirit!