5 Wedding Planning Tips from the Bride



Valerie Lynn Photography

Friendly acquaintance: Ooo wedding planning, aren’t you having just so much fun?!

 

Me, outwardly: Yeah…it’s going ok I think.

Me, inwardly: Um, I’m so stressed out about this guest list that I spent two hours last night crying and binge-eating Pringles!



                Although I am an amateur in the wedding world, I hope being a bride gives my list a bit of credibility! In our wedding, my husband and I made choices that I am very thankful for, but there are also things I would consider doing differently. As we were reminded in the days of preparation: If at the end of the day you are married, the wedding was a success! I could actually leave my encouragement at that, but I do want to share a few extra thoughts for any brides-to-be.

 

1) Set your priorities early.

 

Weddings are expensive. Somehow that has become the lay of the land. However, whether you are in a financial crunch or not, I highly recommend frugality. Talk with your fiancé to determine what areas hold the greatest value for you, and in which areas you’re willing to be more flexible. Don’t drain the bank for photography, videography, catering, decorations, clothing, venues, and wedding party gifts; invest in a few, and get creative with the rest. You don’t have to buy diamond jewelry for your bridesmaids, and you don’t even have to buy Save the Date cards at all. A couple weeks into marriage when your pipes burst and your roof starts leaking…you may wish you hadn’t spent thousands of dollars on floral decorations and monogramed napkins!


Valerie Lynn Photography

2) Strive to be selfless.

 

At every turn, someone is telling you: “This is your day.” Oh, how this mindset makes it very hard to not be greedy and controlling! The truth is, your friends and family have preferences and hopes for your special day as well. I was not expecting this, but requests and recommendations will be made that go against your original plans.  Resist bitterness and every now and then take one for the team, so to speak. In no way do I suggest becoming a doormat, but I do advise taking the opinions of others into true consideration. For example, if your mother has been dreaming of an elaborate dinner, but you and your fiancé have already determined the meal to be one of your lower priorities and want to do light hors d’oeuvres, gently but firmly tell her you want to take a different route. If possible, find a way to compromise, such as hiring a caterer she likes. But in areas that you choose to be more flexible, be prepared to let a few preferences go. This is your wedding day, but it’s a day shared with many loved ones and is not intended for your enjoyment only. Look for ways to ensure that your guests will feel loved and have fun.

3) Ask for help from a variety of sources.

 

You’re surrounded by friends and family (also coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors, and more!) who have a wealth of talents and connections. Turn to these people for assistance; do not try to accomplish everything alone! Planning a wedding can be a monumental task, but I encourage you to not let it become a burden. My parents spent countless hours helping me with wedding favors and decorations, and our church family was involved in officiating, leading worship music, coordinating, catering, and more. I was astonished with how many little details arose each week that I had never thought about, and many days I felt overwhelmed. It was not until I received help from others, professional or not, that I was able to relax and truly move forward.

4) Let your personalities shine!

 

God has made you and your fiancé unique. Although weddings involve a great deal of tradition, your day does not have to be like everyone else’s. You are not required to have a cake, bouquet, music selection, and hair-do like those found in magazines or found at your best friend’s wedding. Take hold of this freedom and have fun! Personal touches will mean much more than any pricy ideas the wedding industry may push your way. So if you love Taylor Swift, give the DJ a list of her songs to play. If you collect cute soaps, find some in bulk and share as the wedding favor. If the smell of pine brings back sweet memories, raid your grandparents' neighborhood trees for centerpieces. If you or your fiancé are known for being intellectual, goofy, athletic or artistic – let this be reflected in the rehearsal, ceremony and reception.


Valerie Lynn Photography

5) Seek to glorify God.

If you are a follower of Christ, I cannot urge this enough. Marriage is God’s design, his institution. He desires that marriage reflect the gospel, the relationship of Jesus and the church. As the public celebration of this gift and responsibility, our weddings should point not just to ourselves, but to God. This is a challenge, and I had to remind my heart with these words: “This is God’s day. This is not MY day. This is our wedding, but we are God’s.” This desire to glorify God can be manifested in the wedding setting in countless ways. Please take the time to prayerfully consider how to praise God and draw near to him in each aspect of the day.


Valerie Lynn Photography

 

I wish you good luck in your planning! Remember that the wedding day, like your marriage, will not be perfect. But it will be an exciting, beautiful time with your future-hubby, and the importance of this day is found in the commitment you're making to each other (not the commitment you make with a band or bakery!). Happy planning!

 For further exploration:
Wedding vow samples - Even if you don't want to write your own vows, there are many options to choose from!
Genesis 2:15-24, Proverbs 31:10-31, Ephesians 5:22-33, Philippians 2:1-18, 1 Corinthians 13 - A few verses from the Bible that may serve as good reminders/encouragement.

Happily Ever After?

            There is a diamond ring on my left hand and a pretty white dress in the closet.  A man has professed his love for me, and I reciprocated.  A photographer has taken our pictures and we’re neck deep in wedding planning.  God-willing, we will soon live together, become “one flesh” and start a family.  Is this my happily ever after?  Has it finally arrived?? 

            Fortunately, no!  Although my fiancé is a great man, we would be headed for disaster if I were to place my hope in his love, efforts, and presence.  I am not “demanding soul-level satisfaction from him” because he is not made for such a thing.¹  His role as a husband, as outlined in Ephesians 5, is to love me sacrificially and lead me towards purity (purity not being an absence of sexual intimacy, but a turning from sin toward a more Christ-like life).  I am thankful that he will say vows with me in January, and strive to be faithful in God’s design for marriage…but he will be far from perfect in his execution, as will I.  Although I am still not married, I know that romance, companionship, sex, laughter and love from my husband will not cure my ailments.  Rather, our sin will be magnified.  Selfishness will be uncovered and laziness challenged.  Loneliness and lust will not be distant memories from the days we were single.  Why?  Because although a desirable blessing and sacred bond, marriage does not bring salvation from the muck of this life.  However, it is a picture of the gospel.  The union of a man and woman in marriage is intended to provide a glimpse of Christ’s love for the church.  Christ shows forgiveness when wrath is deserved, extending compassion and help to those who are weak, and gave his life that the chasm between us and God would be bridged.  I pray that my marriage might be characterized by such radical love, grace and mercy.

            My point in all this is to crumble the idolatry of marriage, which I am all too familiar with, and point to the unfailing rock of the only true and lasting happy ending: eternal life with Jesus Christ.  Marriage does not continue after death (Matthew 22:23-33) because it is not the goal of our existence.  God created man and woman to have a close relationship with him, worshipping him with no shame.  For those who surrender their lives to Christ as the only means of salvation, this beautiful and sinless union with God is fully restored.  I am thankful for my fiancé’s love, and I hope we can live together many years in marriage.  However, I am even more grateful for Jesus’ perfect love, which extends from before the world began and will continue forever…literally.  What an amazing, albeit mysterious, view we get of this life in the book of Revelation. Jesus makes all things new – a new heaven and new earth, as the old have passed away.  There will be no tears or pain as God dwells with people from all nations.  Together we will praise God with the angels, seeing Jesus before our very eyes. [Revelation 7:9-12; 21:1-8, 22-27]

            In all times and circumstances, this is where my hope lies.  Where, or in whom, is yours found?

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.  But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

Hebrews 1:10-12

"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.  Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Psalm 25:4-5

 

1 – Alvin L. Reid & Ashley Marivittori Gorman, The Book of Matches, page 16.

 

 For further exploration:
Song - "In Christ Alone"


 

My Personal Testimony

              As a child, I believed Jesus was real and good.  I had no reason to doubt my loving church family.  However, my beliefs and understanding were disjointed and shallow.  My childhood faith could be summed up as this: God is real, and I need to be a good person.  I need to make Jesus proud and not be like the people who killed him.

You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe – and shudder! James 2:19

            Not until I was 15 did I enter into a true, saving relationship with Jesus.  At a very small Christian camp on the beach, I sat on a log by the campfire.  It was nighttime and we had heard the last speaker for the day.  Everyone dispersed, and I sat gazing into the fire.  That night I was struck like never before with the weight of my sin.  I had always seen myself as “good” – I did well in school, tried to be nice to others, and did not have what some might consider major rebellious tendencies.  But I was slapped across the face with the reality that these little attempts at goodness, often motivated by pride, would never be enough to make me right with God.  I could never live up to his perfect standards, and in fact, my lifetime of seemingly innocent obedience was marked by selfishness and hidden wickedness rather than sincere surrender to God.  At the same time, I was equally struck with the goodness and magnitude of God.  He was not a distant deity who created me and checked up on me every now and then.  He was personal and passionate, fully aware of every sin I had ever committed.  And yet, he sent his Son to die for me.  This sacrifice was not made lightly, but in radical love and with purpose.  I did not have the vocabulary to tell anyone, “hey last night I turned my life over to Jesus as my Savior,” but I knew that weekend marked the beginning of a faith unlike anything I had ever known before.

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” Psalm 16:2

            My life was marked by a greater hunger to know God, but I was very intimidated by the Bible.  By the time I got to college, my faith became overshadowed with frustration.  I began to resort back to my childhood faith, angry that God was not responding to my obedience by giving me the desires of my heart.  I began to intentionally pursue sin and refused to go to church or a campus ministry (even though a sweet girl in my hall invited me multiple times).  After a year of rebelling, it’s like a light switch was flipped.  God pulled me back into his loving arms so quickly that I’m not sure how to explain it.  My eyes were opened again to my sin and his grace and mercy.  My hunger was revived and I began pursuing God’s word and community with other believers.  I started reading and studying the Bible for the first time and was sharpened by other Christians in a local church and on campus.  God re-aligned my desires with his and brought me such joy and comfort in knowing and following Jesus.  My prayer life became more personal and my faith became more public as all areas of my life began to come under God’s lordship.

 

A year later, he plopped me down in the Philippines for two months to share the gospel.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew that Jesus’ instructions to his disciples were for us as well: “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few…Go your way, behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:2-3).  It was not until this trip that the meaning behind Jesus’ sacrificial death clicked for me, and when I returned home I was baptized.  In evangelism training, I read Romans 3:23 and 6:23.  Like a child being told 1+1=2, I had unknowingly accepted Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as being connected to my forgiveness without knowing why.  I find it a bit humorous that not until I was halfway around the world as a missionary did I finally understand: Jesus is God, perfect and undeserving of death.  He died because that is our punishment.  From the beginning of time, the choice of separating ourselves from God through sin brings eternal separation in the form of death and hell.  All people sin, and rightfully earn this consequence.  However, Jesus died in our place, absorbing this punishment and making us right with God.  He did not remain dead, but rose so that we might rise too.  We have died with Christ, and will live forever with him in the perfect goodness God originally created.  God has responded to our rebellion with compassion, providing salvation to all who have faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord of their life.

            God does not save us so that we can live cushy lives, but has prepared good works for us to walk in.  We are to love God and love others, sharing the good news of Jesus to every nation.  As I continue to learn and know God better, I stumble and sin and turn inward – but his mercies are new every morning and he continues to draw me back and strengthen my faith!  I will never understand or know everything, but I am confident that God is my Creator, Father, Savior, Lord, Refuge and Guide.  His goodness is unwavering and his word is true, lighting my path as I go through life as his child.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 3:23, 6:23

 

 

For further exploration

* Leviticus 20:26, Isaiah 53, John 3:16-18, Acts 10:34-43, Ephesians 2:1-10, Hebrews 1:1-12 & 7:23-27, Revelation 1:17-18 & 5:11-14 & 7:9-12 & 21:1-8     

* Video testimonies of celebrities ("I am Second")

* That's my King! (amazing audio clip)

* Newsboys music video, Passion music video

 

 

 



Death by Sin, Life by Christ

“God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.  Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.  Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:1-2

            Every person to walk the earth has rebelled against God, except Jesus.  We all sin, in many ways, continuously through life.  Past and present (and surely future) struggles for me are laziness, selfishness, lust, anger, jealousy, impatience…and really I could go on for days.  As Paul said in his letter 1 Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

            As our Creator and embodiment of all things good and perfect, God is the only one able to accurately define what is right and wrong.  He provides an outline in the Bible, and those who love him are to follow in humble submission, being made more like Christ through repentance and faith in his Word.  However, attempts to turn from sin are not the means of salvation.  God does not extend forgiveness based on human effort and goodness.  By his grace and mercy, Jesus absorbs the punishment of death for all the wicked sinners (ex: ME!) who place their faith in him.  What follows such faith is a desire to deny oneself and follow Christ, living out the good works he has placed before us.  It is not easy, but a lifelong journey. [John 14:15; Romans 3:23-24; Luke 5:27-32, 9:23, 19:10; Ephesians 2:1-10]

            It's difficult because we are born with sinful desires, but our personal pleasures never trump the authority and wisdom of the God of the Universe.  Although sin will be present in the lives of Christ-followers until he returns, we are not to accept it, but rather wage war against sin.  For this reason, I must currently address the sin of homosexuality.  I would dare say all of us, at some point at least, will deal with sexual sins, and homosexuality is just one among the list.  As I see this sin being not only accepted, but celebrated, even among Christians – I just have to take a moment to say that this is not right.  I do not say this out of superiority or hate, but out of anguish that God’s word and will is being twisted or disregarded altogether.  For those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord of their life, and are attracted to the same sex, my hope is not that you be sneered at or banished.  My hope is that you find encouragement and accountability in the church, as I have found for the struggles of my own sinful nature.  If our church members begin congratulating us for our sin, it’s time to leave and seek biblical discipleship elsewhere. [Romans 6:1-14; 2 Peter 2:1-3, Hebrews 12:1-6]

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
 

            May we all recognize the filth within, and turn to God for forgiveness and the strength to resist temptation.  May we never be ashamed of the gospel, and the counter-cultural implications of Scripture.  Love God for who he is and what he’s done, not judging him or editing his commands.  Love others as Christ loves us, sacrificially and boldly extending truth and help.  The hope we have in Jesus triumphs over every sin and trial!  God does not call for self-loathing or indulgence, but repentance and faith.  He knows and loves us more intimately than any person on earth.  I encourage nonbelievers to consider Christ, and believers, including myself, to follow him whole-heartedly!

 

For further exploration:
40 questions for Christians to sift through in relation to homosexuality

 

 

God is the Powerful Creator, not a Limited Creation

            Why do people worship God?  Why do people all over the world accept physical torture and death rather than renounce their faith in the one true God?  If you think Christians are naïve or misinformed, I beg you to reconsider.  Is it not possible that for thousands of years, sincere believers spread across the globe are not blind followers of tradition but passionate followers of the truth?  Children in China, old men in Nepal, and teenagers in Brazil have been saved by Christ and have devoted their lives to the God who deems them his eternal children.  Entirely by God’s grace and mercy, through faith in his Son, our filth is cleansed and we are forgiven.  God allows the punishment for sin, death, to be absorbed once by Christ so that many may be saved.

            And yet, God is ridiculed and staunchly opposed.  Many who spit on his name are doing so based on ignorant rumors, blatant heresy, or negative personal experiences.  They are usually rejecting a man-made god, not the God of the universe who presents himself to us through the Bible, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  If someone insults the person you cherish most, will you not rise to their defense?  Please understand then why I desperately want to speak about the God who has done more for me (and all of mankind) than any person I love could ever attempt.  There is so much about God’s character that I want to defend, but all I will currently attempt to address is God’s role as Creator.   

"You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.  But you are the same, and your years will have no end."

Hebrews 1:10-12

            God is a Heavenly Father of order, not chaos.  He created the cells that make up a ladybug’s eye, and he fashioned the stars in space that have yet to be discovered.  He designed every organ and organism that scientists study, including the complex brains they use to accomplish such work.  He is powerful, imaginative, and eternal.  He is more intelligent than the wisest man to ever live.  He sees all, knowing the hearts and actions of every person.  God made humans unique from the rest of his work, but our wisdom will never compare to his.  It is foolish to look at gaps in our knowledge, or apparent contradictions, and chalk it up to God being inadequate or false.  If we trust our own limited human capacities above God’s infinite depth as Creator, how silly do we look?  Being wise in our own eyes, when we clearly all fall short of the glory of God, will only usher in a life of hollow pride and eternity apart from God. 

            What we know of the vastness of God’s splendor and power in creation is only a glimpse.  What’s even more mind-boggling is that God is not a distant creator.  He created us with intentionality, and sent Jesus because of his love for us.  Just as a liver is made to produce bile for digestion (and other things I wouldn’t be able to explain well), humans are made to worship God and live with him in harmony.  We see this in Eden and we see it again in the book of Revelation.  God makes all things new, wiping away every tear and dwelling with mankind forever in peace.  This salvation and restoration is the act of a personal Creator – loving and compassionate in his position of authority, not weak and apathetic. 

            I do not kneel before an angry or lazy God.  I do not read in Scripture of an unjust Creator who acts on whims and demands undeserved worship.  I also do not know God as an enabler, accepting sin as long as he gets a bit of praise in return.  I follow the God of the Bible, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  He is the only lawgiver and judge, the Father of a kingdom that will never be shaken.  He is the standard for all that is good, and I fall short.  Yet, his grace and mercy have been extended to me in the form of salvation through Christ.  He desires that all be saved, that every broken relationship be mended and every rebellion crushed.  I urge you to consider Christ; soften your heart towards the God who made it and knows it more intimately than anyone else.

 

For further exploration -

Genesis 1; Proverbs 3:5-8; Proverbs 15:3; Proverbs 16:2, 25; Psalm 118:8; Psalm 139 ; John 3:16-21; Romans 3:23; James 1:16-18; Hebrews 1:1-3, 12:28-29; Revelation 1:8, 7:9-12, 21:1-8

 

Reports of Christian persecution

 

Song, "God of Wonders"
Song, "Yahweh"

Fascinated with Fame

This entry is by guest writer, Debbie Clem.  Debbie is a Montessori teacher in North Charleston, SC.  She attends Hope Church in Hanahan, where her husband is the pastor.

We all love to read or hear about the lives of celebrities: Hollywood movie stars, musicians, sports stars, and even the British Royals. For most of us, these celebrities live a life vastly different from our own. They live in mansions, drive expensive cars (when they are not being chauffeured in their private limo), fly across the country or continent for dinner, and can pretty much buy anything they want.  Many of us buy magazines and tabloids that boast tantalizing headlines about the rich, famous, and infamous. We google information about them and their families. We love to share information about them with others. Most of us don’t know any celebrities personally, and they have never personally done anything for us. Yet, we eagerly seek out and share every tid bit of information about them we can.

Well, how does this headline grab us?

“Jesus Christ gives up power, position, and prestige to willingly die by crucifixion to save mankind from sin."

The Creator of the Universe, the Savior of all mankind, who is all-powerful, lays down His life as a sacrifice for us so that we can enjoy eternal life with God. Why then do we not have a greater desire to learn as much as we can about Him than the celebrities who have no personal connection to us?

Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Jesus knows us intimately—better than any human on Earth—and knew us even before we were born. This supernatural intimacy didn’t cease with that first breath at birth; the Lord loves us for eternity. God is all about relationships and He desires nothing more than to spend time with us, His most precious creation. God loves us so much that He created mankind only after the Earth was made ready for us. James 1:18 says “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth; that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created”. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jesus only wants what’s best for us. He wants nothing more than to bless us. If He knew us before we were conceived then it seems reasonable that we should want to seek a relationship with Him—go to great lengths to learn about Him—to want to be like Him. Still, many of us continue to enjoy the celebrity lifestyle vicariously through tabloids and TV. Why aren’t we spending our time and resources getting to know Him who holds our very lives in the palm of His hand?

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

So with whom does your fascination lie? Will you spend your time, energy, and resources seeking information about someone who neither knows nor cares about you; or will you eagerly seek after the One who knew and loved you before you were born and sacrificed His own life so that you may enjoy life with Him in heaven for eternity?

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

 

 

An Encouragement to my Christian Brothers

            Have Christian men become afraid to pray?  Has it been deemed merely a pastoral responsibility?  During a recent mission trip, I was astonished by the refusal of adult men to pray over the locals we were ministering to, and even over meals.  When translators asked for volunteers to pray with the families we met, the great majority of men never stepped up.  Even when asked directly - “Would one of the men like to pray this time?” – the response was a shuffle of feet and blank stares.  Christian men, who had led youth to a third world country as their chaperone or father, were quick to paint houses but hesitant to speak with our God.  This is both tragic and terrifying.

            I see godly men around me, and abroad, who are eager to communicate with our heavenly Father.  They are not ashamed to lift up praises and requests.  In the preschool where I work, even the 2 year old children became enthusiastic volunteers to pray before snack and lunch.  So sweet!  However, the trend I saw on that mission trip spurred me on to reflection.  This past year I have witnessed women gathering together to pray intentionally over children, missionaries, and churches.  I have not seen this same dependence on God from men.  My viewpoint is limited, of course, and prayer is not meant to be a public spectacle.  I am also not speaking from any level of superiority or expertise (quite the opposite).  Still, I would like to encourage my brothers in Christ because I do not think these are merely isolated events.  May we cling to the truth of these reminders, and respond in boldness.

Our God is Personal

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

            God is not an impersonal force who is indifferent to our thoughts, concerns, joys and desires.  For those who surrender their lives in faith to Christ, God is a heavenly Father.  Prayer with him is a privilege; the God of the universe wants to hear from us as his children!  He is all-knowing, and yet he wants us to be joined with him in this intimate way.  For our relationship with God to be nurtured, communication is key – we see this in our earthly relationships as well.  If you’re afraid to be open with God, you’re turning aside from the most powerful and unique relationship anyone will ever encounter. 

Prayer is not a Performance

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

            Paul and Silas were overheard by others, but their prayers and songs from prison were directed to God.  They were conversing with God through praises and petitions, coming before him humbly and audibly - and God’s response was amazing!  Whether alone, with one other person, or an entire group, our prayers are to God.  Jesus gives instructions concerning prayer when the disciples ask him, and it’s a matter of sincerity and love for God (not a graded assignment).  Women may generally be more verbal creatures, but for all of us, confidence and maturity in prayer grows through practice and study of God's Word.

Men are Spiritual Leaders

"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling." 1 Timothy 2:1-8

            As your sisters in Christ, we hope to be the helpers God wired us to be.  In order for this to happen, we need you to lead.  We’re not concerned with your eloquence, but with your genuine efforts.  Cast aside fear and laziness, and put on selflessness and devotion (Ephesians 4:22-24).   Pray fervently in your private time with God, but also lead the church in praying together.  Praise God for who he is, and thank God for how he is at work.  Confess your sins to him.  Pray over the needs of others and yourself.  Pray that God be glorified in all things, and lead other believers to do the same. 

 

            Abraham, Isaac and Moses prayed.  Nehemiah prayed.  Jesus prayed.  The early church prayed.  There are mysteries and struggles involved, but let us do the same - praying specifically and praying BIG.  May we love God and love others through prayer! 

 

For further exploration:

A few scriptural references to prayer -- Nehemiah 1, Luke 11:1-13, Acts 4:23-31 & 12:1-17, Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18-20, Philippians 4:6-7 (also, see the book of Psalms for many prayers interspersed)