On the twentieth of this month, Nathan and I celebrated our 6 month-iversary. Like I always say, I can't believe it's already been this long and I can't believe it's only been this long.
It definitely wasn't my ideal way to celebrate, because Nathan was off and I was working... But! I am glad that he had the day to rest and relax, and he did so much stuff around the house for me =)
In honor of our 6 months, I'd thought I would share some of my marriage thoughts with all of you.
1. Marriage: it brings out the best in us and the worst, but the best part I could think of is that I have someone who knows me better than I even know myself, has promised to love me forever no matter what, and daily shows me what that means. I am not perfect (shocker! =P) and I let my sinful, fleshly self, control my actions and moods way more than I want to admit. But, Nathan loves me selflessly and forgives me even when I'm a huge stinker. And by God's grace I do the same with him.
2. Forgiveness and dealing with anger/conflicts quickly is vital. When God says not to let the sun go down on our anger, (Ephesians 4:26), He is telling us to resolve it as quickly as possible with the one we are angry with. In marriage, anger and conflict happen, because we are humans with an old sin nature. Maybe my anger is well merited, most of the time it's not, but either way I am called to initiate healing. Sadly, there are times I wait until Nathan initiates it, but I am so glad he does. We can only do that because of our new nature in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit! When you can deal with issues and then forgive each other quickly, life is so much sweeter and your selfless love grows.
3. Nathan IS the most perfect soul mate, provider, protector, husband for me! The longer we are married, the more in awe we are at how perfect we are for each other and the more thankful we are that God brought us together in His marvelous way. Seriously guys, I cannot think of any other person that would be silly with me, talk with me, live with me, and much more, the same way Nathan does. I know some people may argue with me that there isn't THE one, it's just whoever I choose to love, etc... But I don't know, I feel like Nathan is an argument against that! Don't get me wrong though, I also know that even as we grow older and change, he will still be THE one for me, and I will love him and choose him forever and ever.
4. Marriage is sanctifying. It is definitely smoothing away our rough edges slowly but surely. =)
5. Marriage has to be intentional. We have to be intentional about spending time with each other, we have to be intentional about putting each other first, we have to be intentional with putting Christ first, we have to be intentional with loving each other better every day. And I think that's part of what makes it so sweet.
6. A Covenant marriage is AWESOME! Nathan brings me so much joy, fun, and love... He is with me through all the wonderful ups and the hard downs, he is my best friend, his arms are my favorite place, and getting to go to sleep with him each night and wake up with him every morning is beyond incredible (even when I'm grumpy ;) - I couldn't imagine my life without him.
I love you Nathan Brian, and I always will!
Until next time...
Jessica
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Reading through the Bible - Leviticus
For me, when I hear "Leviticus" it immediately brings to mind blood, sacrifices, laws upon laws, etc. It is so easy to simply skim through and think, well these things don't apply to me because of Jesus, so why should I spend a lot of time on them?
BUT, this time I wanted it to be different. I wanted to be intentional in digging deeper and asking the Holy Spirit to teach me through this book. So, as I have waded my way through the first 7 chapters (yes, I am pitifully behind if you are following the She Reads Truth plan that I am...) I have been awestruck at all God has been showing me! And I wanted to pass on some of the things =)
The first three chapters are about burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings. In other words, all non-sin offerings.
Listen to the following verses:
Fire is chosen to symbolize the Holy Spirit, no doubt, because of what it does. Fire burns out the dross. Fire gives light. Fire gives warmth. Oh, to be on fire for God! May the fire fall for us as it did in Elijah's day! May people who hear us have burning hearts! May we be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire! May the Word of God burn in our hearts like unto fire!" Pastor Jack Hyles
"At Pentecost, the Bible says that tongues as of fire appeared over the heads of each of those who gathered together (Acts 2:3). The Holy Spirit comes as fire to work something deep into the substance of our lives that will shape things around us, rather than us taking on the shape of the world. As fire, He works in a dual way: to probe the inner recesses of our life and to refine us as gold or silver is refined in the fire; and to temper our personalities by causing there to be the penetration of fire into our system.The purifying fire burns out the Adversary. When the three Hebrew children were thrown into the furnace, not only were their lives spared, but also their clothes didn't burn. But the ropes holding them in bondage burned. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit being “a spirit of judgment and burning” (Isa. 4:4). Judgment has to do with deliverance, in the way the judges of Israel led people out of bondage. The Holy Spirit, coming like fire, burns away any binding grip that the Enemy has imposed on us." Jack Hayeford
As the fire in the altar was to be continually burning, so must I continually ask and allow the Holy Spirit to work in my daily life. It also brings to mind continual confession. The altar was used in huge part for sin offerings, and it was to be continually ready for that. In my own life, am I continually confessing sin? Is my heart always ready to recognize and take care of sin? (1st John 1:9, John 13 - a picture of daily confession.)
Right now I am about to dive into chapter 13 of Leviticus, and there is so much more I would like to share! But I think that should wait for another time =) I have really enjoyed reading Matthew Henry's commentaries (free online) for each chapter, and it has helped me so much in digging deeper with this book!
Until next time...
Jessica
BUT, this time I wanted it to be different. I wanted to be intentional in digging deeper and asking the Holy Spirit to teach me through this book. So, as I have waded my way through the first 7 chapters (yes, I am pitifully behind if you are following the She Reads Truth plan that I am...) I have been awestruck at all God has been showing me! And I wanted to pass on some of the things =)
The first three chapters are about burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings. In other words, all non-sin offerings.
Listen to the following verses:
Leviticus 1:17b - "It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma
to the Lord."
Leviticus 2:2b - "a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord."
Leviticus 3:5b - "it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord."
Sense a theme? After every single instruction for these sacrifices it says that it is a "Pleasing aroma to the Lord" That immediately brought to mind the verse in Romans and also a few in 2 Corinthians.
Romans 12:1 - "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship."
2nd Corinthians 2:14-17 - "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death,
to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity,
as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ."
Under the New Covenant, through Jesus' sacrifice, I am no longer bound by these sacrifices or called to follow these instructions, BUT as a child of the one true God, I am called and equipped to live my life as a living sacrifice and an aroma to God and others around me of Christ. Interestingly, this phrase is not found in the next 4 chapters as God gives instructions for sin offerings. For me, it reminded me that living as a sacrifice and aroma is NOT how I am saved or how I gain forgiveness, it is the result of coming to God through the one Way, Jesus, who alone can save.
From somewhere in my mind fire connected with the Holy Spirit and I couldn't help picture how in the same way I am not to quench the Holy Spirit in my life.
(Sorry, I couldn't help but put all of that in ;)
"...it is perfectly Scriptural to speak of one who is filled with the Holy Spirit as being "on fire for God." It certainly was in order when the Emmaus disciples spoke of their hearts burning when Jesus spoke with them. Luke 24:32, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?" John Wesley used to say, "I just set myself on fire and folks come to watch me as I burn."
When I read the below verses, my mind instantly went to the Holy Spirit -
Leviticus 6:12-13 -The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out.
The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange
the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
From somewhere in my mind fire connected with the Holy Spirit and I couldn't help picture how in the same way I am not to quench the Holy Spirit in my life.
1st Thessalonians 5:12-28 - "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
(Sorry, I couldn't help but put all of that in ;)
Since I wasn't too sure if connecting the Holy Spirit with fire was actually biblical, I went searching and found these quotes. (Warning: I do not know much about these bible teachers, so if you start to research them or read more of their writings, do not take this as an endorsement for all of their beliefs. Diligently search scripture for yourself in order to make sure what they say is true. For me, these quotes matched up with scripture and I didn't find any glaring untruths, so I am willing to share them because of the light they shed on this particular topic.)
Fire is chosen to symbolize the Holy Spirit, no doubt, because of what it does. Fire burns out the dross. Fire gives light. Fire gives warmth. Oh, to be on fire for God! May the fire fall for us as it did in Elijah's day! May people who hear us have burning hearts! May we be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire! May the Word of God burn in our hearts like unto fire!" Pastor Jack Hyles
"At Pentecost, the Bible says that tongues as of fire appeared over the heads of each of those who gathered together (Acts 2:3). The Holy Spirit comes as fire to work something deep into the substance of our lives that will shape things around us, rather than us taking on the shape of the world. As fire, He works in a dual way: to probe the inner recesses of our life and to refine us as gold or silver is refined in the fire; and to temper our personalities by causing there to be the penetration of fire into our system.The purifying fire burns out the Adversary. When the three Hebrew children were thrown into the furnace, not only were their lives spared, but also their clothes didn't burn. But the ropes holding them in bondage burned. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit being “a spirit of judgment and burning” (Isa. 4:4). Judgment has to do with deliverance, in the way the judges of Israel led people out of bondage. The Holy Spirit, coming like fire, burns away any binding grip that the Enemy has imposed on us." Jack Hayeford
As the fire in the altar was to be continually burning, so must I continually ask and allow the Holy Spirit to work in my daily life. It also brings to mind continual confession. The altar was used in huge part for sin offerings, and it was to be continually ready for that. In my own life, am I continually confessing sin? Is my heart always ready to recognize and take care of sin? (1st John 1:9, John 13 - a picture of daily confession.)
Right now I am about to dive into chapter 13 of Leviticus, and there is so much more I would like to share! But I think that should wait for another time =) I have really enjoyed reading Matthew Henry's commentaries (free online) for each chapter, and it has helped me so much in digging deeper with this book!
Until next time...
Jessica
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Our Reception!
I am so pleased with how everything turned out for our reception. Both of our families worked hard to make my vision a reality and I think it was a big hit!
The main "attraction" (other than the bride and groom of course ;) was our waffle bar! People could choose to grab an already done waffle or try their hand at one of three waffle irons. Then there were lots of topping to choose from - jams, chocolate, powdered sugar, syrup, whipped cream...
For favors, we had a candy bar with little bags for people to fill up. I spent the 9 months before our wedding scouring goodwill for all the different containers and even recruited Nathan's sisters! I love the ones we found and the old fashioned vibe it brought.
Alright, so now for how all this went down ;) my cousin, Daniel, graciously agreed to me our MC and he was wonderful! After we all walked down the aisle we waited for about 10 min. so that the food could be brought out and just so we could have a breather. Sarah fixed my hair some and took out my veil and then it was time for our entrance. We went ahead and made the rounds, saying hi to everyone and thanking them for joining in our celebration, and then it was time for our first dance.
We danced to "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perry. Yes, yes, I know it is technically a twilight song, but I have never seen the movies, I've just heard it, practically everywhere and I literally felt that exact way while Nathan and I were long distance courting. It brings me to tears every time I listen to it! It was perfect.
Then we cut the cake while my cousins helped Nathan's Mom set up the wedding party's table.
We all got a chance to eat and fellowship before the speeches were made.
Jaquelyn and Hayden were our Matron of Honor and Best man - they both did a great job sharing and it was so wonderful to hear from them! They have meant a lot in our lives, especially mine.
After the speeches and a little more milling about, we were ready to blow that place ;)
Of course the groomsmen, plus certain brides cousins took it upon themselves to decorate our car. It was pretty funny because Nathan and his whole family are AVID Gator fans and Seminoles have NO part in anything ;) Well played, well played.
Sadly it was raining so hard I think it all washed off after a few minutes.
For our send off, everyone was able to grab a bag of sprinkles!
I had thought of that idea because I didn't really want bubbles, but I wanted something that would be biodegradable. I thought I was so original until I Pinterest'ed the idea ;)
One of my favorite things about the send off pictures is zooming in and seeing all of the different faces. I think Daniels, Stevens, (Both cousins) were some of the best. They look so happy for us -Blush Face-
It made for some pretty cool pictures, but who knew sprinkles could get so many places! See my hair up there? Well there were even more sprinkles in every place imaginable, including every little fold in my dress, of which there were many! We still had sprinkles on our floor when we got back from the honeymoon. And who knew sprinkles stain! =O I obviously wasn't thinking too clearly when I was planning this... Oh well! All those stains on my dress are just memories. ;)
Then all that was left was to ride off into the sunset, er... Rainstorm. It was fabulous and perfect and lovely and fun all rolled into one package!
Thanks for sticking around as I made my way through all these posts! It was wonderful remembering all the details and emotions of our big day. We also have a video which I would love to share, except I need to figure out how to edit it down to just moments, unless you really want to watch the entire hour or so =P So whether or not I will share will depend on if I figure all of that out.
Until next time...
Jessica
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