Reheasing For Tomorrow

What a fun day today will be! Today is Rehearsal Day ... the day to make sure everything is scheduled and kinks are unkinked. Everything is practiced so everyone is on the same page, hopefully eliminating any surprises for tomorrow. There will be much laughter and silliness. There will be a few mistakes, but this is the day to make them. And there will be a sense of familiarity in the process so that tomorrow will be a little less hectic. It's a fun day.

Then after the details are ironed out, we'll join together with Rob's father and step-mother to bring together families from the northeastern end of the country with folks from the upper midwest and south and the dearest of friends. This is your last night as singles before the most important day of your life. Games, good food and fellowship as folks get to know one another a little bit better in a less formal environment, and perhaps let go of a little anxiety.

What typically takes place at a rehearsal dinner?

Introductions: Take some time to say who everyone is. Name tags may be helpful for this night. Be sure to go around and meet and greet everyone.
Supper: Can be whatever you want. With Rob and Ayla, food trucks are the fare for the evening.
Thank yous: These are the verbal thank yous to everyone who helped and came.
Toasts: Since typically the best man and maid-of-honor do toasts at a reception, this is a good time for parents to make toasts.
Gifts for the wedding party: A good time to give your bridesmaids and groomsmen a token of thanks.
Last Minute Reminders so everyone will know where they need to be and at what time the next day. 

For Rob and Ayla's night they have a few games planned, as they wanted to really get folks interacting together. It's going to be a lot of fun and memorable.

So get ready to practice for the big day and delight in the company of those who love you so very much! Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you'll be married!

Discussion: What things are running through your mind on this day before your wedding? What are the things you most want to practice? What are you hoping will happen at your rehearsal dinner?

Prayer: Lord God, we pray this is a special, fun, tension-less day for our couple and the families. We pray for joy in the greetings and blessings in the memories. We love you, Father. Thank you for this day. In Christ, 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.

Taking the Guess Work Out

I love when you and Kayla post what you want on Pinterest. It is so helpful for people like me who are clueless as to what to get as gifts for people. To me, Pinterest "Want Lists" are the Gift Registries for the non-engaged. Which is why I always say "post wisely" when you're on there and update often. I've just recently created my own Wish List board since I see how helpful they are.

I was tickled to hear you and Rob had began wedding gift registry lists (Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, thus far). It will eliminate guess work in the gift hunt for your needs as newlyweds and with regards to colors, patterns, brand in the gift details.

It was Marshall Fields in Chicago that apparently started the first gift registry in the 1920s and Target which put it online in the 1990s. No longer would newlyweds receive three blenders and four gravy boats. Once those purchases were made, the lists were updated. Of course, not everyone updates the list, so count on a few doubles. And don't count on everyone sticking to the list either. Daddy and I got two ice buckets and we never even asked for one. Praise God for the folks who give you gift cards so you can get what you need. But I will say, if it wasn't for the wedding registry, I doubt your Daddy and I would have the china and crystal sets we have. We could have never afforded it. And they are items that we not only cherish, but use often.

I don't think you've totally completed your lists yet, so I would say pick durable, high quality items. Now that doesn't necessary translate to more expensive, so keep that in mind. Do your research. Know that you will use these gifts either forever (china) or until they die (towels, sheets, toaster) so you want things that will last. You may get upwards of 20 years out of some gifts, so choose wisely. Go room-by-room through your home to see what you really need. If people call to ask you want you specifically want, don't hesitate to have a list of items at hand to help them out. Remember that many folks are traveling great distances to come to the wedding, therefore their attendance at the event may for some be all the gift they can give.

"Ask and you shall receive." (Matt. 7:7) That is God's advice in prayer. And in this instance, works as well. Even God tells us what He wants from us in his Bible Gift Registry of sorts: in Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."  1 Chronicles 16:28 says, "Bring your offering and come to worship Him." and Psalm 116:12-14 says, "What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people." Romans 12:1 tells us, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." So now you know exactly what you can give God ... a humble spirit, your offering, sharing Christ's salvation with others, praying, being faithful and giving yourself completely to Him.

See, isn't it nice to not have to guess in the gifting?

Discussion: Have you gone through your home to see what you need? What is something you really hope you receive from the wedding or showers? What advice have you gotten from newlyweds about gifts?

Prayer: Our Father, how blessed Rob and Ayla will be by the souls how come to the wedding, and doubly blessed by any gifts they will receive. We thank you, Father, for the guidance you provide and the greatest gift of all in Jesus. Amen.

Brewing Bonbonnieres

You just recently bought tiny burlap bags for your favors. Knowing how much you both love coffee, you have decided to make your wedding favors bags of coffee beans with the note "Love is brewing." I love that these are so personal to you both.

Wedding favors date back to at least the 16th century, when guests were sent home with something representative of the couples love, like a knot of rope ... a love knot. Later, guests believed weddings were lucky, so to receive a gift from the wedding couple was seen as passing on the luck. Guests were given fives pieces of candy or almonds to represent health, fertility, wealth, a long life and happiness. The candies or almonds (or even a combination of the two: almonds dipped in a sugary candy coating) were placed in tiny boxes were called "bonbonnieres (think "box of bonbons" ... yum). Some were pretty fancy, made of precious metals, porcelain or crystal and covered in gemstones.

Today wedding favors are more about thank yous to guests for attending the wedding and typically reflect the personalities of the bride and groom. I honestly cannot remember what our wedding favors were. When I asked your Daddy if he remembered what ours were he said, "What are wedding favors?" I think we may have given out the candy coated almonds. Gonna have to look that up to see if I can find out. Were we to give out something today, I would imagine it would have something to do with writing or our love of the Father. I love that flavors are so personal now.

There is no doubt your love is brewing. While you both are passionately in love now, let us tell you, that your love will only grow and grow. The love we have for each other is probably 100 times what it was when we first professed it 31+ years ago. It is the core of who we are. Your love, like coffee, will energize you, comfort you, fill your life with flavor, be warm and toasty (and even have its iced moments), and percolate throughout the years to the perfect cup. Love is brewing indeed.

Discussion: do remember any wedding or party favors you have received? What are some that have
 meant something to you?

Prayer: Father, we thank you in advance for the sweet souls who will come to Rob and Ayla's wedding. We pray in advance for their safe journey to Florida and that they will enjoy witnessing their vows and celebrating. We also pray they will not only enjoy brewing their cup of coffee from the favors but also delight in this young couple's love. We love you, Father. In Jesus, Amen.

En Theos Iasm

The day after Christmas, Anton, Kayla and I got to tour Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse with Ayla. It was nice to be able to see where you worked, learn about what you do there and see your enthusiasm for the job and the challenges it provides you. I know as soon as I was typing the word "enthusiasm" that Ayla was thinking about the root meaning of the word, "en theos" which means "in God." Ayla learned this in a sermon from last Sunday at her church and subsequently shared that with me. To have enthusiasm for something you have great interest in it. Our Father created us with our different talents and interests. I believe when we follow through with those talents and work at them with our whole heart, we are glorifying the Lord.

You both have great talent, interestingly both in the food industry. You are not just good at what you do, you are excellent. The Father has gifted you with those talents. We pray you will continue to utilize them, not just as your meal ticket, but as a method to be a blessing to others ... whether through the gifting of your time and talent or through reaching others in Christ through love at your personal mission field right where you work. And understand that the Lord may take you both in different directions with those talents, or may show you talents you didn't even know you have. Or pull you out of your comfort zone completely to a place where His amazingness shines through you.

We pray your enthusiasm for anything is evident to all. Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me." The Father gifted me with the ability to write. And I do it to His glory, and I do it enthusiastically. I have also been a worship leader and photographer, neither of which I feel I was overly talented for, but did all I could to glorify the Father through. Whatever the two of you do, do it with enthusiasm and do it for His glory. We will be cheering you both on, excited to see where our Father leads you.

Discussion: How is the Lord using your talents for His glory? Can you share a time where you found you had a talent you didn't know about and where you went with it?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord for the talents you have given us. May be a blessing to others with what you have gifted us with. Help us to do all enthusiastically in, through and to you. In Jesus, Amen.

The Chief End of Man

Daddy preached Sunday on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. It tells the story of a man entrusting his servants with his money and property while he is away. The talents referred to in this story are the largest denomination of money listed in Scripture. A talent could be worth anywhere from $30,000 to 20 years worth of wages. So we're talking about multimillionaire standards. To one servant he gives five talents, to another servant two and to the last, one. The first two servants double the man's money. They are rewarded with increased job responsibilities and the man's favor. The last hid the money out of fear and returned the one talent to him. He is called wicked and lazy and is thrown into the outer darkness.

Your Daddy stressed the importance of using each of our gifts and talents to glorify God and further the kingdom. As the congregation was leaving the church, one member asked, "Do you mean that I am supposed to glorify God with everything I do throughout the day?" Your Daddy answered, "Yes."

When Ayla and Anton were little they took a summer class at church in Athens, Georgia on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Written in the 1600's, it was designed to teach faith to children. It asks this question: "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is: "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Colossians 1:16 says we were created "through Him and for Him." Ephesians 1:12 tells us that having hope in Christ, "we live for His praise and glory." 1 Peter 2:9 says we are to "proclaim the mighty acts of Him." When Christ spoke of why He came He responded, "that they may have life and have it abundantly."

So basically we're to praise Him, glorify Him, live for Him, proclaim His acts and have an abundant life. If our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, then the answer to the the congregant who asked your Daddy about glorifying God in everything we do throughout the day is a resounding, full-bodied, wholehearted, "YES!"

That means whatever we do throughout the day, we are doing it for God's glory. Working, cooking, laundry, playing golf, cleaning the toilet, singing, vacuuming, mowing the lawn, playing football ... we do it to God's glory. 1 Peter 4:11 says: "Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."

Your father brought up the example of Tim Tebow playing college football and putting a Bible verse on his eye black, and how when he changed the verse from Phil 4:13 to John 3:16 during the national championship game, the latter verse was googled by 94 million people during the four hours of the game. He was glorifying God in the game.

I think as we go about our daily business, we forget that we were created for that purpose. We forget that our jobs, friendships, entertainment, homes, families and mundane activities are still all to be for God's glory. Were we to remember that, we would probably approach each moment of our day with a far different attitude. And if we remember throughout the day that the God we serve is holy, sacred and just, our behavior towards everything we do and everyone we meet would have a different focus and goal.

Yesterday when your father and I went to see a movie, we ran into a young friend. We were late for the movie we wanted to see, but when we asked this young man how he was doing, he clearly needed to talk and share something he was dealing with. Every bit of me was anxious to get in to see the movie, but the Jesus-loving, God-fearing, Spirit-guided soul in me knew what I was created for - God's glory. And loving and listening to this boy did that. 

We were created for His glory. And our Father believes that the two of you can do that better together. He hand picked you for each other and knew before you were even born who would be the best helpmate for you and how your talents would compliment one another. Knowing that we prayed for Ayla and Anton's spouses since they were toddlers, gives us great confidence in God's selection for both of them. We pray that each day of your betrothal will be a time of glory for God and each day of your marriage likewise. And those amazing talents our Father has gifted you with, that you will double the return for His favor. He is so worth it, and you are so capable.

Discussion: What talents has God gifted you with? How are you using them to glorify God? How do you enjoy God? Do you proclaim is mighty deeds? Are you living life for Him abundantly?

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for gifting us with the talents we have and we pray that we use them to Your glory. Help us to identify what our talents are. And help us remember in each day, in each circumstance, in each task, that we remember Whom we're doing it all for. We love you. In Jesus, Amen.