Mr. and Mrs. Right

Grandpa Zimanek told this joke several times while at our house. I think he told it to everyone who came to visit: "I knew I married Mrs. Right. I just didn't know it was Mrs. Always Right." Chuckle, chuckle. You could just as easily swap that for Mr. Right. Seems we've heard a lot of marriages where one or the other of the spouses needs to always be right. My friend, Joanna said one time she listened as her son complained about something he felt he was correct about with regards to his girlfriend, Nicole. "I'm right, I'm right, I know I'm right," he said. Her response to him was, "What's more important: you being right or you being with Nicole?" Both of you will have times when you think you are right - and sometimes you both can be right depending on the interpretation - but being right is not the most important thing and honestly the satisfaction of being so is hardly worth it.

You will have disagreements throughout your relationship where one of you will think you are correct - perhaps even know you are correct - but if you've reached an impass, you might need to ask yourself how important it is to be right. And of course we would always say, stop the disagreement right in its tracks and pray right there. It takes the edge off and Satan out of the equation to allow you see and think more clearly and in line with Christ. Plus, God is always right, so it is wise to consult Him.

For the record - we think both of our children are marrying Mr. and Mrs. Right and we pray it lasts for always.

Discussion: Which of the two of you frequently thinks they are always right? What are somethings you can do to step back from the desire to insist on being right?

Prayer: Lord we are thankful that You are always right. Glory to You! Father, give us grace to step back from any strong arming to insist we are right and to remember to love in our discussions and  to be understanding of each other's opinion while the situation is sorted. Please guide our words and guard our tongues. In Jesus, Amen.

One And Only

A hug the night before our wedding.

Right before Jadoosh left to head back to Iowa he asked me this, "Jill, am I your favorite father-in-law?" To which I responded as I always do, "Of course you are, you're my only father-in-law." We giggle. But this time I added one more bit, "You'll be the only father-in-law I will ever have." To use a hunting metaphor with reference to Brad, "I've bagged my limit." To use a fishing metaphor, "I'm not throwing this catch back."

Daddy is my one-and-only. My beloved. He was my true love when I was 18 and he's my true love 32 years later. Neither of us have any desire to trade in for a newer model. The love we had all those years ago has intensified. It is greater, deeper, richer and much more powerful. Is it easy? Nope (or we wouldn't be writing this blog). It's work. We are constantly looking for ways to be better for each other. But it's worth it. You know when I notice most how neatly and spiritually we fit? When we hug. It's like the world melts away and we melt into each other. It's peace and comfort squished together. I sigh just thinking about those hugs.

God has given you your one-and-only. And this is something you must remember throughout your marriage. You need to cherish and work at it. It is our prayer that we will be the only mother-in-law and father-in-law Rob and Kayla ever have ... and your favorite.

Discussion: What do you think it takes for love to be greater, deeper, richer and more powerful? What feelings do you have when you hug?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for finding us our one-and-only. Give us the determination to be faithful, encouraging and loving to one another throughout our lifetime together. We love you and thank you for your example in Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen.

Bless, Uphold, Care

I once read about a couple who's wedding cards were all stolen at a reception. Just sitting out on the table, someone can collected them all and walked out the door with hundreds of dollars in gift cards and cash. This is why many couples will have some kinds of collection location for wedding cards that is secured so that guests won't be tempted and gifts are safe. I have seen some people use mail boxes, bird cages, a wrapped gift box ... even a fake wedding cake.

For our wedding, my mother made a wishing well. She covered it in white satin and lace. It was bulky and huge, so pretty difficult for anyone to try to make off with it. My sister used the same wishing well for her wedding. It was just so cute. Gaga said it's a little worse for wear over the last 20+ years and thought it was too bulky to bring to Florida for Ayla's wedding, so she created something new for Ayla.

What started off as a wooden bread box, has turned into a seaside treasure chest, covered in nautical bits like anchors and lighthouses and sea shells. She worked so hard it to make it special for her one and only granddaughter. A true labor of love. Gaga's co-workers loved it so much, they told Gaga she should make more and sell them. "Oh no," she said, "That is special for my granddaughter."

I think one of the things that makes weddings so much fun is participation of family and friends to make this day so special. Kayla has shared several things that various family members or friends are doing to play a part in her and Anton's wedding. Each one is tailored to their gifts and a fun way for each to contribute. Several of my friends have been precious to volunteer to host a bridal shower for Ayla. It is a sweet and generous thing for them to do for my daughter, and I praise Jesus for them all. How grateful we can be for people willing to do so much.

Last week we shared a blog about the order of the Christian marriage worship service, and we mentioned the part where the congregation is asked to "bless, uphold and care" for the couple. Looks like folks are already stepping forward to do that, and we haven't gotten to the wedding yet. Glory to Him!

Discussion: Share about what different people have already volunteered to do for your wedding? What do each of these people mean to you?

Prayer: Father we thank you for folks willing to help out with various aspects of the wedding and pre-wedding festivities. Please bless them, Father, as they have been a blessing. In Jesus, Amen.

If Anyone Is In Christ

Your Daddy loves to tell this story. Not long after I met him, before he even said he liked me, I was signing a check at the bank when I realized I accidentally signed it Jill Zimanek. A friend who was with me saw the error and said, "Oooo, I'm telling." I have no idea why I signed the check that way. It wasn't like I'd practiced. It just flowed out. A Freudian slip perhaps? I was so embarrassed. I tore up the check and started again.

Of course, here I am all these years later signing everything Jill Zimanek, so perhaps it was just a premonition of things to come. When Jadoosh visited he commented that he didn't understand how a woman could let go of her last name when she got married. He asked, "But don't you lose your identity?" I assured him that I certainly hadn't lost my identity. I knew exactly who I was and where I came from. Then he asked about pride in my maiden name, Lauritzen. Well, of course, I like that name. It was my father's name and is still part of who I am, but I don't believe taking my sweet husband's surname meant I lost my identity. Instead, it let's everyone know to whom I belong.

Different cultures handle that different ways. Some men take the woman's last name. Some folks hyphenate (imagine Lauritzen-Zimanek! Sheesh). Some drop their middle name and place their maiden name there. Some folks never take their husband's name. I know of a woman and man who created their own last name rather than take each others. Guess you could combine the letters. Daddy and I could have been the Lauritizimaneks.Or smooshed our letters up to be the Amizzileekanurts or the Kreemitannulzzans. Yeah, see Zimanek by itself is so much better.

God puts a lot of stock in names. Their meaning is of great importance repeatedly in the Bible. Jesus means "Yahweh saves," Abraham means "Father of Many Nations," and Israel means "Struggles with God." Every time one of Jacob's sons were named, there was a meaning behind it.

Jill means "Youthful," Elizabeth (my middle name) means "God satisfies" or "Oath of God." Lauritzen means son of Laurit (which in turn means "lauryls," a symbol of victory). Zimanek means Simon's son, and Simon means "Hear" or "Listen." So the meaning of my full name "Youthful God Satisfies Victorious Hear. Deep.

Here's the thing though, my identity really isn't in my name. It's Who I belong to. "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.The old has gone. The new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17) I am a new creation in Christ. No matter whether you call me Mom, Jill, Pumpkin, Precious, Jillbeth, Jilly, Sissypoo, Jill Elizabeth, Aunt Bib, Mrs. Zimanek, Mrs. Jill ... I am still a Christian. And to me that is the most important identity of all.

Names are important. And the meaning behind them, likewise. But our identity ... that comes in Christ. 

Discussion: What does your name mean? What are some names you go by? Are name meanings important to you? What is important to you about your identity?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the names we have. We thank You for the new creation you have made us, thanks to Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, may we live up to the identity we have in Him. In His name we pray, Amen.

Encountering Christ

Today is the last day for the Fox Valley Women's Walk to Emmaus #16 in Wisconsin. We are so excited to hear of the success of this spiritual retreat there. After all, Daddy and I were on the ground floor of those walks and helped get the community started. I served as the Lay Director of Women's Walk #2 and Daddy was Lay Director of Men's Walk #3. My children know how much the Walk to Emmaus means to us. Brad will tell you his life changed there. He still today refers to his life as pre-Emmaus and post-Emmaus.

We are thrilled that both Ayla and Anton have been on Chrysalis, the youth version of the Walk to Emmaus. What we love about the weekend is the way it is completely covered in prayer, caters to the individual, showers participants with love and meets them right where they need to be met on their spiritual journey. No two people will experience the same weekend. We have seen miracle after miracle on those weekends. While you can only attend once, we've sponsored about 35 people for walks - two more in May - and worked a good many of them. Ayla and Anton will tell you they are not actual "walks" (like a 5K). It's named for the passage in Luke 24 where two men encounter the risen Christ on the road to the town of Emmaus. Their eyes are opened when they realized who they are with and see all that Christ fulfilled in the Scriptures. This encounter with Jesus on that walk, changed those men's lives and  inspired them to share the story of the Good News.

The weekend retreat goes from Thursday to Sunday (or sometimes Wednesday to Saturday). It includes 15 talks (five by clergy and 10 by lay people) on subjects such as priorities, study, service, discipleship and grace. You worship, have communion, sing, eat and fellowship every single day. There are surprises along the way and participants are constantly told "Don't anticipate." The weekend is designed to allow pilgrims on the journey to have a stress free weekend alone with God. It's a powerful ecumenical experience. And working them is just as fun.

If either Rob or Kayla are ever interested in going on a walk, we will move heaven and earth to make it happen. We love these weekends and love how they grow people and help them to remain accountable in their faith. And we feel everyone deserves to have this experience. It isn't the only way to have a powerful spiritual growth spurt, but it's a good way.

We bring the Walk up because we feel it is important to have spiritual retreats as often as you can. To get away to focus on the Lord is so powerful. So any time you have the opportunity (weekend retreats, conferences, concentrated Bible studies, day retreats, marriage retreats, church-wide retreats), do it. We are planning a summer church retreat for our church for this summer, and you know I help put on a Ladies Beach Retreat every fall. It's a powerful time of connecting with God and others and like the actual encounter with the risen Christ on that road to Emmaus, inspires you to want to share the Good News.

Never stop seeking ways to grow. It will be so uplifting, challenging and encouraging for you, your faith and your relationships.

Discussion: Share about a retreat experience you have had. How did it change or inspire you?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the many opportunities there are for spiritual growth. Father, when you want us to learn something new or participate, open the doors for us to see those experiences. We love you, Lord, and delight in every encounter with You. In Jesus, Amen.

Take It The Lord In Prayer

I have been praying since last evening for a friend of friend of Ayla's. She made a decision that could very well alter the rest of her life. Both Ayla and Anton are familiar with the story, so we won't go into details here. Right now, prayers are necessary. Prayers for this girl's future and life hanging in the balance.

Daddy and I have told our children repeatedly throughout their lives that you are responsible for every single choice you make. The smallest decision could truly affect the rest of your life. Should you do that? Should you go there? Should you say that? Should you try that? And how do you know whether or not you should? We would first and foremost ask you, "What would God have you do? Is it in line with what Scripture teaches? Does it bring glory to your Father?" If you get a no to any of those, the choice is simple. Other questions you can ask are, "Is it kind? Is it helpful? Will it bring someone to Christ?"

We talked to you about the value of just one decision in this blog last December, but hearing about this girl just drove it home once more, and we felt it beared repeating. And it's not just little decisions, but big ones as well. Decisions about future careers, family, location, homes, hobbies, each could change the course of your life. Go to God. Ask Him what you should do. Make sure each and every decision you make is in line with His will for you. Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 wrote a song called What A Friend We Have In Jesus and a line in it says, "What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer." And it is indeed so. You have the opportunity to go to the Creator of the world for guidance, and direction. See to it that you do. It could save you much grief later.

Discussion: Do you think there are any decisions you make that you really don't need to go to God for? Tell of a time when you wish you'd have asked God first before you proceeded with a choice.

Prayer: Lord, we are so grateful to you that you are in control. Help us Father to focus on You and keep our lives plumb with You. Please guide and direct our steps and help us to make wise decisions. In Jesus, Amen.

Do It Well

While preparing information for The River recently, I came across a site with the "best advice for graduates" based on commencement speeches given all over the country. All the advice was good, but one in particular intrigued me. It said, "Whatever you do, do it well." I think what it was saying is, you have unique talent, so do that the very best you can at accomplishing great things with it.

Looking at that from a Christian sense, this is likewise true. God has talented each of us with something(s) special, and He expects us to use it to His glory. Think about the parable Jesus shares about the talents in Matthew 25. The master entrusts his servants to care for his property while he's out and gives each a certain number of talents. The first two double what is entrusted to him. The last hides his talent and thus is reprimanded. God doesn't just expect us to use our talents. He expects us to expound upon them, grow the Kingdom, do great things. Hiding them makes those gifts pretty worthless.

Each of you has been gifted with certain talents. Some of you have leadership skills, some social, some mathematical, some organizational, some creative, some mechanical and so on. In your marriage one of you will be more skilled at one thing than the other. And what a beautiful thing that will be. It will allow each of you to shine at what you excel. What a wonderful team it will make you. If you know your spouse has a better gift for something you're tackling, give it to him/her. It will be far easier for them and will get done more efficiently and cost effectively. When you've been asked to help or accomplish something you are known to do better, embrace it. Don't look at it as a burden, but a blessing. For if God has gifted you with that talent, then step forward in faith to do your part.

We love seeing the different skill set, talents, knowledge and background each of you bring to your marriages. You will accomplish so much if you work together, support one another, continue to try to learn more and seek to do the very best you can at what you can do. So whatever you do, do it well!

Discussion: Talk to each other about what your strengths and weaknesses are with regards to certain skills and talents? How can you help each other? What are things you can do to improve what you already do well? How can you use those skills to further God's Kingdom?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for all you've entrusted us to do. We thank you for what makes each of us unique. Help us to appreciate those different talents and support each other in them. Continue, Lord, to make each couple a blessed team for You. In Jesus, Amen.

A Service of Christian Marriage

Recently when Kayla and her mom came to worship at our church, the first thing they did was both grab a hymnal. They wanted to see the "Service of Christian Marriage" and how it was done in the Methodist church. This is just after they were checking out the very same thing in their Lutheran church recently. I didn't even know something like that was in the hymnal. So I decided to check it out myself. In there is an order of worship. So I thought I'd do a little research as to what exactly is to be part of the wedding service.

1) Gathering - when all the guests arrive, typically to instrumental or vocal music. Oftentimes the groomsmen are ushers at a wedding or other close male friends or relatives can help.

2) Processional - after all the guests have been seated, the bridal party comes in. The groomsmen from the front and the bridesmaids from the back. The bride then comes in with her escort(s), usually her father.

3) Greeting - the pastor welcomes the people.

4) Declaration of Intent - the officiant then asks who gives the woman to be married. Then he/she asks the bride and groom to declare their intentions to enter into a union with one another through Jesus Christ.

5) Response - the congregation is then asked to bless, uphold and care for this couple in their marriage.

6) Scripture - friends or family will read Bible passages selected by either the pastor or bride and groom.

7) Message - the pastor will give a sermon, not typically very long, but usually personalized to the couple.

8) Vows - the couple recite their vows in the name of God.

9) Exchanging of Rings - Rings are blessed and placed on the bride's and groom's finger.

10) Blessing - a prayer over the newly married couple. Sometimes couples will add a unity candle, cross or sand. If Holy Communion is celebrated it will be done here. Sometimes special music will take place at this time.

11) Declaration of Marriage - The couple holds hands then the pastor announces they are husband and wife ending with something like "Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder."

12) Kiss - the couple seal the deal.

13) Going Forth - a benediction is said and the couple is then introduced for the very first time as Mr. and Mrs.

14) Recessional - everyone exits.

That is the general order of worship. You can add different touches, personalize vows and such, but that is pretty much the order. The Bible likes things to be done "decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40) and this is a good, basic order. Remember, this is not just a contract ceremony - it's a worship service, designed to bring glory to the Father. Have fun making it unique and precious to you. We pray it will be a wonderful memory for you.

Discussion: As a couple, what elements do you want to incorporate as part of your wedding ceremony? What unique touches do you want to add (songs, Scripture, unity symbols, etc)?

Prayer: Lord, you are the King of these couples and this world. This ceremony is not just about bringing two people together in matrimony, but about worshiping You, the Creator of marriage. May You be glorified! In Jesus, Amen.

Over The Threshold

Ever have this happen where you need to go get something and you get to the other room and forgot what you were there to get? So you go back where you came from and you remember. Psychologists say it's because you went over a threshold. Apparently our minds see a threshold as a border or closing to the events that just happened. Which is why when you go back in the room you remember. It's almost like you left your thought there.

Ancient cultures would say it's because evil spirits lie in wait in the threshold. And it's this same reasoning for why grooms would carry their brides over the threshold into their new home or wherever their first night of their honeymoon was. You sure didn't want evil spirits to mess with that first wedding night. Plus, if the bride tripped over the threshold it was considered bad luck.

Other traditions say the groom carried the bride in because she dragged into the bridal chamber kicking and screaming. In days of arranged marriages, we could see this making sense. They weren't in any hurry to get to "know" their husbands.

A threshold, the dictionary says, is more than just a strip of wood across the bottom of a doorway ... it's a point of entry or a beginning. And for weddings this couldn't be more true in starting a marriage.

Carrying over the threshold requires a groom able to carry his bride. I remember your poor Daddy struggling to carry this bride and her full wedding gown (let's attribute the extra weight to that, shall we) out of the reception hall. If it's a bit much, perhaps you both could jump the threshold.

So whether you are protecting your bride from threshold gremlins or being debonaire in keeping the tradition, might be time to do muscle building in preparation ... you sure don't want to fall and injure each other.

But it is a sweet sign of protection, so charming and a wonderful reminder of the Footprints poem where Jesus explains that where one set of footprints were seen along the beach is where He carried us in our low moments. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help." Isn't a marriage a sweet example of this?

Discussion: Do you plan on being carried over the threshold? What do you think of the tradition?

Prayer: Father we thank you that in our low moments you carry us, protect us and love us so much. May we likewise be there for each other to support and uplift. In Jesus name, Amen.

Sona Posahd Latha!

Imagine Rob and Anton in skirts getting married to the girls ... more specifically kilts. With Anton having a bit of Scotch-Irish in him, could happen. Not sure where in the genetics our Scottish appears, but I do know it's in Grandpa Lauritzen's line and is probably from the maternal side with the Holmes. Many of the traditions for the Scotch are similar to their Irish neighbors, so we'll only take a look at the different ones.

Scottish brides will put a sprig of heather in their bouquets. It's the legendary flower of Scotland. Typically the flower is purple in hue, but brides select a rare white blossom for their bouquet. It's considered lucky. Legend has it, a betrothed woman's fiance died in battle during the 3rd century A.D, but prior to dying sent on a bouquet of heather to show his undying love for her. As she wept, her tears turned the purple heather white. She supposedly said, "Although it is the symbol of my sorrow, may the white heather bring good fortune to all who find it." Thus it's placed in bride's bouquet. Thistles, also tradition in Scotland, are also sometimes used in bouquets.

On the way to church, the bridal party will march behind a bagpiper or fiddler. For good luck, they must cross water twice. Oftentimes the bagpiper will also play the bride down the aisle.

During the wedding, the pinning of the tartan takes place where the family bestows the bride with a pin or sash of the clan's plaid fabric. They may also present the bride with the family sword to be given to their first born son.

Some couples say their vows before the "oathing stone" and even have their vows or names carved into it - this is was set in stone. The stone would be one the couple either got from Scotland or found together.

As the newlyweds leave the church, guests will throw confetti on the couple, which is sometimes shaped as shamrocks or the pattern of the clan tartan. And the couple will throw coins to the little children, called the Scramble, to spread their good fortune.

After the wedding, the bridal party will all sip whiskey or brandy from a two-handed wooden or silver cup, the Scottish quaich. It symbolized the bonding of the couple.

The wedding cake is fruitcake in two tiers. One for the reception guests and the other saved for celebration of their first born child. The cakes are actually baked when the couple gets engaged and are saved for the wedding. Sometimes charms were baked into the cake which guests would pull out. The charms would signify good luck, love, financial success, a stable life or dreams coming true.

The Lang Reel is the last dance for the guests and wedding party. They will dance away from the event and pass the homes off all who attended. Guests leave the dance when the group gets to their home That would be tricky for our weddings with people coming from all over the country.

As a gift, the groom will give his bride a luckenbooth - a love token brooch made of two intertwined hearts, Scottish thistle and a crown,similar to the Irish Claddagh ring in providing luck or protection to the owner. Sometimes the luckenbooth is engraved with messages, initials or dates. The word means "locked booths" named for booths where items were sold in Edinburgh.

One clever gift for the couple is the "make up bell." It is hung in a prominent place in the home. When the couple has an argument, the husband or wife can ring the bell which signifies the end of the discussion and absolves anyone of responsibility for the disagreement.

The Scottish wedding blessing is "Mi\le fa\ilte dhuit le d'bhre/id, Fad do re/ gun robh thu sla\n. Mo/ran la\ithean dhuit is si\th, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'ni\ bhi fa\," which means "A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage. May you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness, and with riches."

Sona Posahd Latha! (Happy Wedding Day in Scottish Gaelic).

Discussion: Which if the above traditions were intriguing to you? Which were of no interest?

Prayer: Lord God, You are the creator of all these different nationalities. How fun that we get to learn so much about them! We love you and thank you for all Your children. In Jesus, Amen.

Insurmountable Tasks

The picture at left is a binder filled with hard copies of every single post written thus far for this blog, Betrothed in Righteousness. As you can see, there are quite a lot. And this is only slightly half of the to-be-completed total. We have 179 more to go. When we first promised to write this daily blog about marriage and weddings, 365 didn't honestly sound like that many. I mean, seriously, how hard can it be? Well, let us tell you, it's quite a lot. And there are days when we wonder, will we possibly come up with six more months worth of posts? It sometimes seems like the most insurmountable task. But it will happen. Because it isn't us doing all the work. The Lord has control of this.

See every time we question whether or not there could possibly be anything else we could talk about, the Father through His Holy Spirit gives us another idea, puts us through a circumstance we can share and guides the words as they flow. It's a daily miracle to watch come together. And we give thanks and praise to Him for it.

We mention this because we want to you approach any seemly insurmountable task with the same approach. Not necessarily the "Go get 'em" approach. But rather the full dependence on the Lord. How is it possible to complete this? With God's help ...especially if it is something He has ordained that you complete. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So do them.

We are on the downslope of this project. You may be on the upslope of a project. Don't give up. Keep giving your all for God's glory. For us now, it's not "How will we complete this task of writing all 365 devotions in this blog," but rather, "What idea does He want us to pursue next? or even "What project will come after this?" We look forward to giving anything He asks of us our all.

Discussion: Tell of an example when God helped you miraculously complete something you questioned would satisfactorily come to completion? Are you in the process of completing some task?

Prayer: Father, we know that everything we do, we are to do for Your glory. When we approach projects that seem overwhelming, help us to seek Your guidance and wisdom for its completion. In Jesus, Amen.

With Passion

 I really enjoy a series on AMC called "Turn." It is a show based on the spy ring George Washington created during the Revolutionary War. This show, of course, takes liberties with the true account. I am currently reading a book that tells the true story called "Washington's Secret Six." It is fascinating to read about these individuals living their daily lives while yet spying on the British and trying to get that information to the Patriots. Several died in their attempts to get that information to General Washington. It's fascinating to read about folks who were so passionate in their belief that America should be free that they would put their lives in danger to achieve it.

I am also watching a miniseries on TV called "A.D: The Bible Continues" about what happened to the disciples after Christ rose from the dead. Like Washington's secret six, the disciples risked their lives to get the information out that Christ alone provided the freedom each man seeks. Many of those disciples lost their lives in the attempt to get that information out. Imagine having that kind of passion. Yet, isn't that what we are required to do as Christians?

After seeing the risen Christ, the disciples knew people needed to have this information: that Christ died for them that they might have eternity with God. And they spread out all over the world to do that. That is our responsibility as well. We need to dedicate our lives to it. Wherever the Lord has place or sent us, that is our mission field. That is where we are called to share the good news. Is there any better news? Is there anything you have to tell the people around you that could possibly compare with this Gospel?

Both of my children have betrothed themselves to others, making them no longer single missionaries, but a team working for Christ. If you remember that your first love is God, your first job is sharing Christ, then you will be a powerhouse of a team for Him. One day God will ask, "What have you done for me? How have you grown the Kingdom of God?" Look around you at the people he has put in your path. Not all of them know Jesus. If you saw them drowning around you, you would throw them a life preserver, right? That's what the gospel is: an eternal life preserver.

As Brad left for work the other day he said as he walked out the door, "We have so much more to do yet for God. He has a plan for us." Yes, indeed, for all of us. So much more to do ... do it with passion.

Discussion: Who do you see around you that needs to hear about the saving grace of Christ? Do you have the passion to share the Good News with people around you?

Prayer: Oh Father, that we would all, as Christians, do everything in our power to make sure the news of your son Jesus Christ would get to all who need to hear it! Instill in us a passion to spread this Good News. In Jesus, Amen.

Behind The Veil

The morning after his wedding, Jacob in the Bible woke up with the wrong woman next to him. He had just worked seven years for his future father-in-law and uncle, Laban, to earn Rachel as his wife and instead wakes up that honeymoon morning with her older sister Leah in his bed. Huge oops. Folks throughout the centuries have asked, "How did that happen? Didn't you see her face when you married?" Well, I don't think wedding traditions of our time were the same as then, since the Bible says Laban gave a feast then Jacob went into "her." Doesn't sound like vows were exchanged, so the room could have been dark. But there have been folks who said maybe Leah was wearing a veil so Jacob couldn't see her face. Perhaps. If so, maybe that's why they are sheer now.

I read that the bridal veil got started in ancient times during arranged marriages. The groom wasn't to see the bride until their vows, so she was kept covered. The meaning of veil is to "conceal, hide or protect." Some say the first time the groom saw his bride's features was at the vows, and he wouldn't back out if she's wasn't as appealing physically as he'd hoped. Concealing her could very well have protected her from losing her husband before they were legally hitched. Others say the veil was to keep away evil spirits or to show the bride's purity.

Nowadays, the veil isn't for concealing. It's just part of the bridal outfit. I mean, where else are you going to wear a veil? Little Catholic girls get to wear one at their first Holy Communion, and some widows wear a black one in mourning (i.e. Jackie Kennedy) but other than that, there are really no other "veil" occasions. Every little girl who has played "wedding" as a child, wore some blanket on her head as the bride. It is interesting on shows like "Say Yes To The Dress," the bride and her entourage don't completely break down or get on board with the potential dress until a veil is put on the bride. Then the tears fall and the deal is sealed. It's what makes the bride look bridal.

There are all kinds of styles: birdcage (the little short netted one), shoulder length, fingertip, chapel and cathedral. Some are tiered, poofy, shimmery, lacey, appliqued, ribboned and sparkly. They are all breathtaking on a bride and make for lovely photographs.

On the wedding day, one piece of the veil (called the blusher) goes over the head in front of the face until the bride is presented by her father to the groom at the altar. Then the father pulls the blusher over the head to the back. Both Ayla and Kayla have their veils. Ayla's is edged in sparkles and Kayla's is the veil her mother, Irene, wore at her wedding edged in beautiful lace. Both ladies will look gorgeous in their wedding veils.

There are two specific veils listed in Scripture that I wanted to talk about with you. One is the veil Moses wore. Apparently after visiting with God on Mt. Sinai, Moses was so radiant and glowy the people had trouble looking at him, so he would wear a veil (Exodus 34:33-35). The other veil isn't one that was worn at all. It hung at the entrance of the Holy of Holies in the temple to separate the people from God. When Jesus died on the cross, that thick, heavy, long veil was "torn in two, from top to bottom." (Matthew 27:51). Notice that both veils were to separate people from the radiance that is or comes from God.

The veils the bride wears may in essence do the same. Prior to marrying her fiance, the bride is God's little girl, protected, loved and radiant. She is gifted to this man who is charged with loving, caring for and protecting her till death, so then the veil is pulled away. Guys, you have the honor of getting to do that for Ayla and Kayla. Do it well.

Discussion: Girls, did you ever play bride when you were little with a veil on your head? Is a veil important to you in the ceremony?

Prayer: Father, what a wonderful thought that when we are in your presence we could flow the radiance of what is You! We pray that is something people always see in us. Thank you, Lord, for tearing the veil in two that we can commune with you. In Jesus, Amen.

Can I Have Everyone's Attention?

Your Uncle Greg is hilarious. He has always been funny. He is quick witted, intelligent and super creative, which is a pretty fun combination. He has served as a DJ for weddings for years and after some begging has agreed to be master of ceremonies for Ayla and Rob's wedding. You couldn't pick a better guy. He knows and loves Ayla, he's fun and he's talented. So he will be great at moving the party along. While Ayla is providing her own playlist, to have someone like Uncle Greg to do the announcing is perfect.

So what does the master of ceremonies (MC or emcee) have to do announce exactly? Well, I thought I'd check that out to get a basic idea of what is needed. As Scripture tells us "all things should be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40), it's good to have a plan.

• Before the wedding couple arrives, the DJ can explain about anything in the reception area: guest book, Selfie Station or Photo Booth, games, drinks, snack bar, etc. anything guests  will need to know ... including how to get the couple to kiss (clink glasses with silverware, sing a love song).
• The DJ or MC will announce the wedding party and newlyweds as they come in. It's important to provide the announcer with phonetic spellings of everyone's name so they don't mispronounce names. At our wedding our DJ couldn't even say Zimanek, so that was a pretty funny.
• Prayer. The DJ will introduce the person blessing the food at the reception ... or in Ayla's case, at the "feast and merriment." 
• During dinner is the toast. The DJ will announce the best man who will take over mic duties.
• After dinner, the cake is cut so people can have dessert. The DJ will ask for everyone's attention to get them to watch as the bride and groom cut the cake and feed each other.
• Then it's time for the first dance as a married couple, bridal party dance, daddy/daughter and mother/son dance and any other special dances that needed announced.
• After that, the emcee invites everyone out to the dance floor. Might be a good time to do a dance everyone loves to get them out there or an organized dance like the Hokey Pokey or a line dance.
• After some dancing it's time for the bouquet and garter toss. The DJ will announce through that process.
• Last call for drinks at the bar ... just in case there is a time limit or it turns into a cash bar.
• If there is a Dollar Dance, that is explained.
• The DJ's last job is announcing the newlyweds last dance and that they will be leaving. 

That's it. Of course, there may be other events that the couples come up with as the date approaches (like Daddy and his brothers singing ♫ Happy Wedding Day ♫) but above lists the basics.

So have fun planning your program order and deciding what music you want to use! It's sure going to be a fun party! And a very Happy Birthday to your Uncle Greg who is 45 years old today!

Discussion: Is there anything in particular that you want to be part of the reception that your announcer will need to know? What are things you absolutely do not want?

Prayer: Amazing Father God, we love you and thank you for your example that we do things decently and in order. And we thank you that Uncle Greg is planning on helping out during Rob and Ayla's wedding. We especially thank you for his life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Compassion in Jesus Name

Daddy and I just recently got a letter from our Compassion International Child, Josselin Tatiana. She is 14 years old and just lovely. Her letters are always short and to the point. She shares about what she is doing in school, her dreams, her love for God and that she prays for all of us. She sent us "brazos y besos" (hugs and kisses) this time. I always enjoy hearing from her. Her letter from March 1 was precious in that she mentioned Ayla's wedding and how she wishes she could come to it and how happy she is for you. It is always so sweet to hear from this little girl who lives more than 2,400 miles from us in Ecuador. She came into our lives in 2011, so it is precious to watch her grow up. She told us recently that she wants to be in fashion or interior design when she grows up and asked if we thought she could do a ministry for the Lord, to which we responded,  "Yes, yes yes!" Praising God that this little girl, whom we've never met and may never meet, is in our lives.
If you ever have the opportunity to sponsor a child like this through Compassion International or World Vision, do it. It's $38 per month and what it does for these children is just amazing, giving them an education, clothes, food and lessons about Jesus. It even helps their families. For years your Daddy and I talked about sponsoring a child, but always thought it would be too much financially for us to handle. Daddy found Tatiana for us and surprised me for Christmas in 2011. Best gift ever. Let me tell you, if you ever question whether or not you can afford something like this the answer is yes. Because our Father will give back to you doubly for any cheerful giving of the heart that you do. He blesses us to help others. It's what he wants and commands. So open your heart and hand to sweet little ones around the world that need you. Make it a habit as soon as you can. And keep in touch with them, encourage them, love and pray for them. It will enrich your life in ways you can't even imagine.

Compassion Sunday is April 26. Check out the children at www.compassion.com and see if God is calling you to sponsor a child in His name.

Discussion: Have you ever thought about sponsoring a child? What are some ways you can give and do for the poor in our world?

Prayer: Lord God, you tell us to care for the "least of these." We ask for Your blessing on the hungry and hurting children of this world and on any efforts we make to help them in Your name. May they come to know and love You. In Jesus, Amen.

Render Unto Caesar

Denarius under Tiberius

Today is tax day. I know both Ayla and Anton have completed their taxes and sent them in, as have we. Tax time is my least favorite time of year. It requires math ... and I am way too pretty for math, hee hee. And with Daddy and I both having contracted jobs, it requires a bit more work - and forms - to pull it together. So I try to get to it as soon as possible just to be done with it for the year. It's a part of life that allows our federal, state and local governments the opportunity to provide us with leadership, good roads, education for our children and the like. And Jesus, of course, supported the paying of taxes with his comment in Matthew 22:17-21,“'Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?' But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, 'Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.' And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, 'Whose head is this, and whose title?' They answered, 'The emperor’s.' Then he said to them, 'Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'” Jesus even had a clever way of paying the temple tax one time. All Jewish males over age 20 were required to pay a shekel in temple tax. When asked if he would pay it Jesus responded to Peter in Matthew 17:27, "Go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin, take that and give it to them for you and me.” Oh that we all could play taxes that way!

A shekel

You will be paying taxes for the rest of your lives - hopefully not at a higher percentage than is already set. But there are rules in place to claim deductions on those taxes, so be sure to know the law and keep accurate records, especially with regards to future homes, medical expenses and charitable giving. Those will all make a huge difference in what you pay. Romans 13:7-8 says, "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." So be timely and honest. And in that vein be aware of who your representatives and senators are and how they are voting on tax issues. That is your responsibility as well and how we the people have checks and balances on those who govern us in this country. It is our right and responsibility as citizens.

Discussion: What thoughts go through your mind at tax time? Are you aware of tax laws and how your governing officials vote with regards to taxes?

Prayer: Father, we ask for wisdom in paying what we owe and how we handle our finances. May you be glorified in our obedience and in the spending of those funds. In Jesus, Amen.

Pressure Washing

The other day I finally tried out my pressure washer. I got it for next to nothing at TJMaxx around Christmas and was excited to try it out on the driveway or sidewalk. Thought I would try it out on the walkway to the side door first. It worked. Through the direct intense pressure of the water, the dark stains on the cement walkway lifted and washed away. But let me tell you something, the nozzle is very narrow, so the area cleaned in one pass was maybe a half inch in diameter. Imagine going back and forth over every single half inch of a walkway to clean it. It took forever to do it. It looked fabulous, but I wondered if I would ever use it to do the entire driveway or sidewalk. It wasn't until after I finished that I discovered the washer came with a second nozzle with a wider spray. Sigh.

While using the pressure washer I thought of myself as a sinner in God's eyes and how often He uses various circumstances in my life to blast away the sin. Things will happen to force me to take a good look at myself, my behavior and choices. If they are not in line with what Scripture recommends, it's time for a good cleaning. But like the pressure washer, it's tackles just a bit at a time. Made me really grateful for Jesus. In one swoop, He made me whiter than snow. Does that mean God won't utilize a little pressure to get us to take notice of particular sin in our life? No, He most certainly will. He wants us to make good choices and grow ever closer in imitating our Lord. Sometimes it takes a bit of pressure to make that change.

In Deuteronomy 8:3 Moses tells the Israelites, "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD." In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul talks about a "thorn" in his flesh to keep him from becoming conceited.

This used a lot as an example, but look at the diamond. Once a lump of coal, after years of pressure, it's become the hardest substance on earth and when faceted, is breathtakingly beautiful. I think that is what God wants of us.

So when you undergo circumstances in your marriage and life that may not seem fair, or life throws various trials at you, take stock of the situation and truly examine first what might need to change in your life. The circumstance may have nothing at all to do with you, but then again, it might. So go in prayer to the Father and ask for wisdom. James 1:5 "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you." He will give you clarity. There are many trials ahead, but in the words of James 1:2-4 "Whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." And hang in there. If a diamond is the end result, you will be breathtakingly beautiful.

Discussion: Tell about a trial or circumstance you faced that made you a better person?

Prayer: Father, we don't welcome trials in our life, but know they make us better. When they come, we pray you give us discernment and strength. May we through them become mature and complete. We love you. In Jesus, Amen.

Request The Honor Of Your Presence

Now that the Save the Dates have gone out, Ayla and Rob are in the process of searching for the perfect wedding invitation. They want one that reflects the theme and colors of their wedding, incorporates their personalities and is, of course, informative about the event, location, times, etc. In our day, invitations were pretty simple - white with words printed in the color of your event. We had RSVP cards with self-addressed stamped envelopes included and the ever present tissue paper (not quite sure what that was for). Nowadays, invitations are original and clever, depending on how much money you want to sink into them. I've seen invitations sent in bottles, engraved in wood, in a hardback book, as a box of chocolates, in a viewfinder and many more. And RSVP cards are not mandatory as people can respond via the couple's website. So there are all kinds of ways to invite folks to the wedding.

But if you want to know what you need to have on your invites, here's the scoop:

• The name of the hosts of the wedding goes at the top
• Date, day, time and location
• If there is a reception, indicate as such
• How to RSVP - card or online?

You can also include your information on your website, attire, maps, accommodations and menu choices for the reception.

You don't have to spell out everything ("two thousand fifteen") just as long as everything is consistent with words, numbers and abbreviations. You can "request the honor of your presence" or "invite you to the celebration of the marriage" or "request the pleasure of your company" ... whatever you like.

As for how to address them:

• Mr. and Mrs. for married couples. If their family is included ... "and family."
• For singles: Miss So-And-So and Guest
• For couples you know who aren't married, one after the other with an ampersand or stack the names.

Depending on the guest, you can also include activity information with the invitation such as - rehearsal dinner, bridal tea, farewell brunch or gift opening.

Keep in mind that if you have an invitation that is extra large, square or contains any envelope embellishments, you will need to pay extra postage.

Praying as you make your decision!

Discussion: What are some ideas you have for your invitations? What is important to be included?

Prayer: Father, you already know what the invitations will look like and who all will come. We give you glory and thank you in advance for all your blessings and the sweet souls who will participate! In Jesus, Amen.

Thankless Jobs

Today I did a bunch of thankless jobs: Vacuumed, scrubbed and polished all the tile and hardwood floors, cleaned both bathrooms, washed all the rugs and welcome mats, vacuumed and washed the car and swept the garage. The are all jobs that no one comes up to you afterwards and says, "Hey - those floors are really shining ... Well done." So you spend hours on your knees cleaning cause you know it needs done, but yet know in your heart if you didn't do it, no one would really know the difference anyways. For my sake, it looks fantastic and smells wonderful. It gives me great satisfaction to know I've done all this Spring cleaning.

Jesus did a thankless job. I'm not talking about dying for us on the cross. That has the gratitude of every sinful soul, I am talking about washing the disciples' feet. Washing feet was the job for the lowliest of the lows. First century feet were nasty. Walking around in leather sandals on dusty roads took its toll, so first thing folks did when they got home from work or visited someone was wash their feet. If they entered a wealthy person's home, it was the family slave that washed guests' feet. And here was the King of Kings, God Incarnate, with a towel around his waist washing the disciples' feet. And they were mortified. Matter of fact, Peter flat out says, "You will never wash my feet!" (John 13:7) to which Jesus replies that if He doesn't Peter cannot have a part in Him. Jesus was showing through this most humble of acts how to be a selfless servant. While it is doubtful the disciples thanked Christ after this foot washing, you can be sure they thanked Him to the end of their days for the lesson they learned that day.

You will do countless thankless jobs in your lifetime. And while you may never be acknowledged or noticed for them, God absolutely sees. And Scripture tells us in Colossians 3:17 "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Thankless jobs we do are a way we can metaphorically wash Christ's feet. And what an honor that would be! Now do I think that Jesus looked down from Heaven at my shiny floors and said, "Wow, Jill, thanks!"? Nope, but I'm sure He appreciated the praise songs I sang to Him while I did it and the prayers said while accomplishing those tasks. 

On that note, this isn't the first time I wrote this devotion. It's the second time through. The blog site went down at some point while writing this and stopped automatically saving the work, even when I purposely saved it to be sure it was there. When I refreshed the page, nearly the entire blog for this day was gone. So I started from scratch and wrote it yet again. Was the first copy appreciated? Nope. Had I not written these last couple sentences you would never know additional time was required to rewrite it. A thankless job ... but done for God's glory, so that's okay.

Discussion: What are some jobs you do regularly that go unnoticed? Do you tackle them as if doing them for the Lord?

Prayer: Father, we know you see everything we do. We pray Lord that as we do the mundanes tasks of our day, that we do them as  if doing them for you. May you be pleased with us, Lord. In Jesus, Amen.

Marriage Legacy

Today my Grandma Haas would have been 100 years old. She is spending her birthday with her Savior, husband and son. My Granny was a pretty funny lady. She loved sparkles and shoes that went clickety clack. She sold Avon for years (I loved to play with her tiny lipstick samples). She was a terrible cook. She had a zillion different sayings and stories that would crack us all up. She had the cutest giggle ever. And she hummed all the time, mostly unrecognizable songs. I remember my roommate in college saying she was going to imitate me one day and she walked around the room straightening things and humming. I exclaimed, "That's my grandma!" Gram married my grandfather, Theodore George Haas on June 29, 1935. What was so amazing about this wedding is that they actually won a contest. Everything was provided for their wedding, location, gown, tux, food, flowers, even furniture and a honeymoon ... and for a couple with very little money in the Depression Era, this was a dream come true. Hundreds of people came to their wedding. They were married 26 years (and had seven children - Gaga was number three), when Grandpa died of a blood clot at the age of 50. Yes, my age. My mother was just 18. I remember Gram talking about Grandpa. He was the love of her life. She would smile from ear to ear when she talked about him. One thing I remember her saying about her husband was that he could play the Hawaiian guitar and he would sing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline to her. Grandma Haas died in 2010 at the age of 95.

There are so many marriages now lost to time that have gone before you: Elizabeth and John, Anton and Veronica, Sophie and Louie, Roman and Hattie, Ruth and Teddy. Oh that we could sit down with them all and ask them for marriage advice, hear their stories about their newlywed years and glean wisdom from their experiences. These were not fairytale marriages (even if Granny Haas's started that way). These were marriages that went through hard times: little money, war, death, frustrations, alcoholism, disease, loss of children and anger. But they also had joy and good memories. I am sure they would all tell you, "There will be tough times, but cling to each other and cling to the Father." Every one of the marriages above ended in "till death do us part."

We want you to know that history and understand the commitment these couples made to one another. These were not half or temporary promises. These couples vowed to stay together to the end ... and they did. Some ending much sooner than they hoped.

You have been bequeathed the legacy of marriages that stood the test of life and time. I don't know if it's possible at this juncture for you to comprehend the commitment and work it will take to make your marriage a success, but we pray you are dedicated to making it so. Take the time to speak to couples who have been married a long time who can give you advice on what has worked for them. We don't have our ancestors to speak to, but there are many mentoring couples to learn from. And compare their advice to what God says in the Bible. We want both of you couples to be ones that generations from now, your great-grandchildren will say, "Let me tell you about their marriages and what a beautiful example they were for me." Leave that legacy.

Discussion: Have you ever sat down with a couple who has been married for over 25 years and asked them what has worked for them in their marriage? What are some tips you've learned that you plan to apply? Tell about a marriage that is an example to you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for the life of Ruth Haas and the lives the great-grandparents and grandparents that have gone before us. We pray, Lord, that we will be committed to having strong, faith-based, loving marriages with our focus on You. In Jesus, Amen.

Profoundly Jadoosh

Today your Grandpa Anthony Walter Zimanek is 75 years old!  Your Daddy thinks it's pretty cool that Grandpa, he and Ayla are all exactly 25 years apart. Which is interesting cause that means so are Grandpa Lauritzen, me and Ayla all 25 years apart. Daddy said Ayla needs to keep that tradition going and have a baby exactly nine months after the wedding (to which Ayla responded " Um, no.")

Next Sunday the Iowa and Illinois Zimaneks will be getting together to celebrate Jadoosh's 75th. We will get to celebrate with him when he comes to visit next weekend with cousin Ron Grygiel (who celebrated his birthday yesterday!) From the guy who always said, "I have nothing profound to say, but only that I love you," Grandpa always has something to say ... some piece of advice, some new joke, some testimony about the Lord, some old story to share. So that being said, I asked Daddy to share what he has learned about life and marriage from his father. This is what he had to say.

• Grandpa has always set goals for himself for self-improvement. Hanging right there above the toilet in the basement, a new list would be posted at New Years. 
• He loves the Lord and there was no question worship was always important. He didn't miss a Sunday or holiday for worship.
• He's an amazing cook - especially with meat. Best steak I (Mom) ever had was one (okay, two in a row) he made. And we all know how amazing his meatloaf is. 
• He plans everything. Gotta have a plan. Your Daddy got that honest.
• He is always on time ... early even. Promptness is very important. 
• He planned separate special trips with each of his boys. Daddy recalled them going to a boxing match together, and Uncle Scott and Grandpa biked from Sturgeon Bay to Giles Rock in Door County. Daddy enjoyed this special one-on-one time with him.
• He's very healthy. He wasn't always that way. He has shared that he was a sickly little child when the family lived in Chicago, which is part of the reason why Great Grandpa Anton and Great-Grandma Veronica moved to the Wisconsin farm of her parents to get him in some fresh air and outdoors. And there was a time when Daddy was young that Jadoosh went in for surgery that kept him out of commission and work for several months. Daddy said he grew up instantly during that time and Busha then had to work full time to support the family. But today he is very healthy. He does exercises every day and his muscles are hard as rocks. He looks into ways to keep himself healthy and applies it.
• He is the great delegator. Working in supervision at Oscar Meyer for years, that was his forte, and he's excellent at divvying up the jobs and making sure things get done.
• He works his butt off and expects others around him to do the same. He's renowned for his work ethic at Walmart in his retirement years. Daddy said he insisted his sons not make mistakes to avoid having to repeat the job over.
• He loves sex (this is your Daddy talking). And he has only ever been with one woman. It was his public displays of affection that started your very private Busha saying, "To-nee."
• Speaking of Busha, Jadoosh weeps when he speaks about his love for his wife. There is no doubt how much he loves and appreciates the amazing wife he married nearly 54 years ago.

Ayla and Anton - you come from good stock. Praying you can incorporate the good qualities of your grandparents into your lives and marriages. Happy 75th Birthday, Jadoosh! We don't have anything profound to say, but only that we love you.

Discussion: Share a memory you have of Grandpa Z. What are something things above you can learn from?

Prayer: Dear Father God, we thank you for Anthony Walter and his years of serving You. We pray for his continued health and lots more profound things to say. In Jesus, Amen.

Worship Him

You gotta love Gideon in the Bible. So many folks can relate to him. He has major self esteem issues. When confronted by the angel of the Lord who called him a "mighty warrior" in Judges 6 and told he will defeat the Midianites for the Lord, he responds in verse 15 "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." In God's amazing compassion and patience, He miraculously responds when Gideon puts Him through a couple tests to get affirmation of his new calling. And the night before the attack, God knows Gideon is still yet afraid of the oncoming battle so he encourages him to go down to the camp of the Midianites in the valley and listen to what they are saying. Down Gideon goes and while there hears a Midian man recount a dream he has to a friend. The dream, the friend says, is confirmation the Lord has given the Midianites into Gideon's hands. It's Gideon's response to this in Judges 7:15 that we want to focus on today ... "When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God." He didn't just offer up thanks. He worshiped.

How worthy our God is of worship! We go to Him all day asking for help with this or that, thanking Him for answered prayer. Do we remember to worship? Just worship Him. Tell Him how awesome He is. Do we wake up each morning and praise His name for yet another opportunity to share His love with people? Do we worship Him in our challenges as well as our joys?

One of the reasons I love to go to the beach so much is because it is one place in particular that shows me the amazingness of God. The power and beauty of watching waves crash on the shore; the vastness of the infinite horizon; the sun or moon rising to herald the day or night; the wildlife He created dancing in the sea or flying overhead; the uniqueness of each shell on the beach; the exhilaration of the breeze blowing by or the comfort of the soft sand underfoot ... all of it compels me to instantly worship. I cannot tell you how many times I just burst into praise song while walking along the shore. Glory to His name!

God loves it when we worship Him ... and not just on Sunday morning. A day of corporate worship is indeed blessed and necessary, but to worship by yourself, to adore Him for the God He is - loving, merciful, powerful, saving, generous is ever yet blessed because we can do this anytime, anywhere.

Take time every single day to worship your Almighty Father. Sing to Him. Pray to Him. Glorify Him. Let His Spirit fill your heart! Need a little help ... then read the last few Psalms. They are filled with words of praise. And you can feel yourself lifted in His grace when you do it. "Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness! Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:2, 6.

Discussion: Do you remember to just praise God daily? Where is a place where you feel compelled to worship? Tell of a time when you spontaneously worshiped the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, You are worthy of praise. We lift our praise to the heavens. We exalt your name! We join Your angels in singing and rejoicing! Holy, holy, holy are You, O Lord! We glorify and adore You! In the name of our sweet Savior we pray, Amen.

Impromptu Poses & Picturesque Portraits

Rob and Ayla are in the process of searching for a wedding photographer. It is an important part of weddings as it seems every single aspect of the preparation, ceremony and reception are captured in pictures, so you want a quality photographer. At the same time, couples will spend thousands of dollars on pictures they may look at once a year if they're lucky for the rest of their marriage. Friends who've been married a long time said what's most important is getting that picture of the two of you together after the wedding. You have to ask yourselves, "Do I want to spend thousands of dollars for a photo album?" because truly that is what it's for. So be fiscally responsible is making your photographer decision. Get a good one, but don't break your budget for it.

No matter who you get for your photographer, it is wise to make a list of the photos that are important to you. You may want specific poses with the bridal party and family members, candid shots, action shots or clever pics for thank yous and social media. So take the time to make up a list and keep it handy. If it's not something you particularly want to stay on top of, you may want to ask someone to keep the list for you during the wedding and keep track of what you have yet to get photographed.

We figure the traditional shots are assumed: couple, bridal party, families, father escorting daughter down the aisle, ceremony highlights, kiss, toast, cake cutting, first dance, father/daughter dance, bouquet/garter toss, etc, so those will go without saying. And many wedding magazines, websites and planners have photo check lists available. We looked up some information to see what other ideas you might want on your list.

1) Some recommend getting a picture of the wedding dress by itself. Personally I don't get that as you'll be wearing it in every photo, so why have a shot of a dress hanging? A close up of the shoes or putting on the garter, I get that ... they won't be seen in most photos. Also, close ups of things like the bouquet, boutonnieres, rings, centerpieces, cake, etc. You may want a visual of all those things to remember.

2) Pictures of you with your bridal party members together and individually. The together shot is pretty much just for you. Know that each person may want an individual picture of themselves with you. Typically, they probably will not want a bridal party picture unless they know everyone in the photo (pretty rare occurrence), but they will want one with just you. If several in the bridal party are friends, bring that group together for a shot as well. Have fun with these - one posed, one relaxed or even goofy.

4) Groom at the altar. Capturing that emotion as he sees his bride for the first time is a treasure. Lots of couples do the "first look" so it can be something between them both privately and so they can shoot pictures of the couple before the wedding instead of after to save time. However, while the tradition part doesn't have much weight perhaps, you still aren't even married then, so why shoot pictures together?

5) 28 minutes/28 years - a personal plug for Daddy and I since Rob and Ayla are getting married on our anniversary. :)

Some clever ideas we saw ...

1) Bridesmaids and brides from behind with their arms around their waists.
2) Groomsmen with superhero T-shirts under their tuxes.
3) Candid Daddy/Daughter shot before walking down the aisle.
4) Anything with a windswept veil.
5) All the bridemaids' bouquets held around the bride's bouquet. We even saw one where the last name initial was made by the bouquets.
6) The bride and groom praying together before the wedding with a door or wall between them so they don't see each other.

  Maybe even take some time coming up with your own ideas for wedding shots you love that will incorporate things unique to you as a couple ... and have fun. This is one time in your life where not only will you be making memories, but will have gobs of pictures to prove it.

Discussion: What is a photo pose you must have? Do you have a clever idea for a wedding picture?

Prayer: Lord, we ask for discernment in selecting a photographer. We pray for a talented photographer of integrity who will be affordable and fun. Thank you in advance, Father, for your guidance. In Jesus, Amen.