Wedding Words
This weekend a dear friend of mine entered into marriage bliss! I'm very excited for her and her man, and pray that they have a wonderful future, full of good times and laughter. It was my privilege to share some "special words" during the wedding ceremony. When first asked to speak I wondered what in the world I knew about a marriage relationship and how could I stand at a podium and share with folks something I have never experienced. So, I stuck with what I did know - I know some things about God and life and well, the Lord ordained marriage, so it was a good thing to talk about living life together.
In case you weren't there or weren't listening, here is a semi-transcript of my six minute message.
Tiffany and I have been friends for years. We met our senior year of high school. Over the years we have shared many experiences and some of our best memories have been while hiking in the woods. We have hiked trails near and far - from the Glacier mountains in Montana, to the foothills of the Appalachian in North GA, and we must not leave out the local mountain in Kennesaw.
It is always smart to have a buddy with you when you hike. In case of accident or injury it's safest to have someone there along the trail to run for help. It is also more enjoyable to tell stories and share dreams with someone while climbing over tree trunks and stomping through creek beds. There was never a dull moment while Tiff and I were on the path. Lots of laughter and lots of fun!
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Colorado for work. I stayed at a camp in the Rocky Mountains and so, one afternoon, I decided to go hiking my myself along the ridge of the mountain. It was quiet and peaceful, but after some time, I became restless and I became lonely. I got tired of walking alone. I sat down and waited. I knew there were friends not far behind me on the path that I could walk with when they came along. As I waited and rested, I thought of life's journey and recalled the passage of scripture in Genesis where God and Adam were on their own walk in the woods.
Allow me to read Genesis 2:18-24
"Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.' Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.' For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."
God saw that it was not good that man be alone in the garden. Out of all the created animals there was not found a suitable helper so the Lord created woman. They were a perfect match! And in the garden that day community was formed. Today we share in that community. How blessed we are to have one another to share in the journey. It is gracious and loving of God to satisfy our need for companionship. We each have reason to rejoice today that we are not alone.
We have hope that a loving Savior walks beside us and guides us, giving us life and all that we need for living. In addition, God gives us family and friends with whom we share various trials and joys. Through Christ we are called to be united as the Church - the Body of Christ, in order to glorify God and to make His light known in this dark world. And yes, through the covenant of marriage, we find the blessings of intimacy and loyalty reflected in our relationship with Jesus on the path of life.
Today we celebrate with Tiffany and Bart as they begin walking their journeys together. As the Lord observed in the beginning, it is not good for a person to live life alone. Marriage is one of the most beautiful ways in which God fulfills the promise that we will not be alone. How thankful I am to have a hiking buddy such as Tiffany and now to see her united with the one to whom she is meant to walk with all the rest of her days, it fills my heart with joy.
Let us rejoice and praise the Lord for such LOVE!
In case you weren't there or weren't listening, here is a semi-transcript of my six minute message.
Tiffany and I have been friends for years. We met our senior year of high school. Over the years we have shared many experiences and some of our best memories have been while hiking in the woods. We have hiked trails near and far - from the Glacier mountains in Montana, to the foothills of the Appalachian in North GA, and we must not leave out the local mountain in Kennesaw.
It is always smart to have a buddy with you when you hike. In case of accident or injury it's safest to have someone there along the trail to run for help. It is also more enjoyable to tell stories and share dreams with someone while climbing over tree trunks and stomping through creek beds. There was never a dull moment while Tiff and I were on the path. Lots of laughter and lots of fun!
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Colorado for work. I stayed at a camp in the Rocky Mountains and so, one afternoon, I decided to go hiking my myself along the ridge of the mountain. It was quiet and peaceful, but after some time, I became restless and I became lonely. I got tired of walking alone. I sat down and waited. I knew there were friends not far behind me on the path that I could walk with when they came along. As I waited and rested, I thought of life's journey and recalled the passage of scripture in Genesis where God and Adam were on their own walk in the woods.
Allow me to read Genesis 2:18-24
"Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.' Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.' For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."
God saw that it was not good that man be alone in the garden. Out of all the created animals there was not found a suitable helper so the Lord created woman. They were a perfect match! And in the garden that day community was formed. Today we share in that community. How blessed we are to have one another to share in the journey. It is gracious and loving of God to satisfy our need for companionship. We each have reason to rejoice today that we are not alone.
We have hope that a loving Savior walks beside us and guides us, giving us life and all that we need for living. In addition, God gives us family and friends with whom we share various trials and joys. Through Christ we are called to be united as the Church - the Body of Christ, in order to glorify God and to make His light known in this dark world. And yes, through the covenant of marriage, we find the blessings of intimacy and loyalty reflected in our relationship with Jesus on the path of life.
Today we celebrate with Tiffany and Bart as they begin walking their journeys together. As the Lord observed in the beginning, it is not good for a person to live life alone. Marriage is one of the most beautiful ways in which God fulfills the promise that we will not be alone. How thankful I am to have a hiking buddy such as Tiffany and now to see her united with the one to whom she is meant to walk with all the rest of her days, it fills my heart with joy.
Let us rejoice and praise the Lord for such LOVE!
that was beautiful Sarah! Makes me wish you spoke at my wedding instead of standing there in a dress you probably didn't care too much for anyway!! ;)
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