Theophobia vs. Triskadekaphobia

This will be the last Friday the 13th before Rob and Ayla's wedding. It's supposed to be an unlucky day, but I've not really seen it. Your Uncle Todd was even born on a Friday the 13th (1963), and he's been a pretty blessed fellow.

Now we're not ones for luck - good or bad. We believe the Father is in control of everything. The Bible tells us in Psalm 115:3, "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." Isaiah 45:7 says, "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things," and in Proverbs 16:9, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."  In Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," and in Jeremiah 29:11 "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." Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." It is comforting to rest in the arms of the Creator of the universe and know that He has it all under control. There is nothing that will happen that He is not aware of. Nothing surprises Him. And the evil that man creates, God uses for His good. Glory to Him.

One of my first favorite contemporary Christian songs is called God Is In Control by Twila Paris. The first verse and chorus say this:

This is no time for fear
This is the time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control

Walking under ladders. A black cat crossing in front of you. Opening an umbrella indoors. Spilling salt. These things cannot harm you. Our fate is in the hands of the One who created time itself. So skip any triskadekaphobia and instead embrace theophobia. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," Psalm 111:10. It's not being afraid of God but more of a reverence of Him. As it says in Psalm 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." And that is something we don't need a special day or date for. We can do that every single day.

Discussion: Do you think there is anything that brings bad luck or good luck? What do you think the fear of the Lord is?

Prayer: Father God, we thank you that you are so awesome, loving, compassionate and in control of our lives. Help us to surrender all that we are to what You want us to be. We love you so very much. Glory to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Like Jewels In A Crown

I bought glitter for you the other day at your request. So that people could throw it on you both after your wedding. Make a wish and sprinkle! What is it you told me you wanted on it? Ah, yes, "Faith, trust and pixie dust - magical wishes for the happy couple." I love it because it combines faith and trust in the Father with your love of Disney and fairy tales ... and with sparkles, of course. I found a beautiful iridescent glitter, called opal, that I think will be perfect. And tiny little Ziplock baggies to keep it in.

For your Daddy and I, it was birdseed. I will never forget after the wedding getting undressed and having birdseed fall all over the hotel room floor. Guessing for you folks it will be glitter all over that floor. I saw a wedding recently where they threw tiny beach balls at the couple. Yes, beach balls. They kept whacking the bride in the head!

But why throw anything at the newlyweds? Where did this tradition come from? Romans threw wheat or grain at brides and grooms to symbolize fertility and prosperity. That morphed into rice in more modern times. But apparently birds were eating the rice and getting sick, thus the switch to birdseed. Now folks more or less believe throwing things at the bride and groom is more for wishing good luck. I've seen weddings where folks throw tiny puff balls, paper airplanes, candy sprinkles, helicopter seeds and even blow bubbles.

You know your Mom is partial to the glitter because I like anything that sparkles. Matter of fact, I remember you once saying you're drawn to anything that glitters like a bug to a zapper. I am the same way. I love sparkly things for two reasons: 1) Heaven and the New Earth are described as sparkly with precious jewels and gold and 2) because I think it's a wonderful description of how we are to "shine like stars in this generation" (Phil 2:15), reflecting Jesus Christ in all His glory.

I don't know that people will be thinking of Jesus necessarily when they throw this glitter on you both, but I hope along with magical wishes, they will uplift a prayer for you - whether for fertility, prosperity ... or just a loving full marriage. I know I will be.

Discussion: What do you hope people will pray for you both as they sprinkle you with fairy dust?

Prayer: How beautiful you are, Lord God, in all your glory. You have made your people to "sparkle like jewels in a crown" (Zachariah 9:16). I pray, Father, we will always sparkle with all the love that is You. Thank you for gifting us with the ability to glow in your glory. Help us to stand out among those near us so that they want to know why we sparkle. In Jesus the King, Amen.