Feliz Dia De Casamento

Now we may have this wrong, but we thought Ayla once told us that Rob has some Portuguese in his background, so we decided to check into traditions from this country with regards to weddings.

Portuguese wedding ceremonies are very similar to American weddings. Two variations include: the officiant wrapping the wedded couple with his/her stole during the blessing (it symbolizes their unity, protection and faith); and confetti thrown at the newlyweds in the form of flowers or candy.

The reception has some unique traditions. Following the ceremony, the couple walks through the neighborhood streets where neighbors and strangers greet and give them well wishes. We'd compare this to walking around Disney's Magic Kingdom with "Just Married" buttons on as hundreds of staff and guests congratulate the couple. After the Portuguese walkabout, the couple then has a small dinner (Bacalhau - a wedding stew or plated dish of salted cod, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and olives) with family followed by cake and tea. As Portugal is renowned for their wines, there may be many toasts. The reception may also have dancing and singing. When the cake is cut, the couple take slices personally to their single friends as luck for them in love. Since the party can last all night long, oftentimes guests are served breakfast in the morning. A money dance - paying to dance with the bride - caps off the party. Sometimes the couple is pranked before leaving where their honeymoon luggage or their getaway car may disappear.

So that's the Portuguese way! Have fun picking and choosing what you may want to use! Feliz Dia De Casamento (Happy Wedding Day)!

Discussion: What are some Portuguese elements you would want to use for your wedding? How important are traditions to your wedding?

Prayer: Lord God, may these weddings and all their traditions keep the focus on You and inspire the guest to exalt your name. How beautiful are all your children of the earth. In Jesus, Amen.

Who's The More Foolish?

Today is April Fool's Day. I hate this holiday, mostly because I am pretty gullible. I expect people to be honest and forthright, so when they try to pull one over on me, I'm thrown and less trusting. A holiday designed to encourage people to prank one another just isn't my forte. It's designed to make someone else feel foolish, and that just doesn't seem Godly or encouraging in any way to me. I know people say it's "all in good fun," but ask the pranked person if it was fun for them. If in a crowd, they may say it was and laugh it off, but it truly isn't fun at all.

I wanted to see what characteristics qualified a person as a "fool" in the eyes of the Lord, so did a little digging. According to the book of Proverbs as fool despises wisdom and instruction (1:7); is complacent (1:32); brings grief (10:1); lies and slanders (10:18); does whatever he wants (12:15); is prideful (14:3); deceives (14:8), is hotheaded (14:16), spurns parents' discipline (15:5); won't hold their tongues (17:28), is perverted (19:1); quarrels (20:3); is untrustworthy (26:6); repeats their poor behavior (26:11); and rages and scoffs (29:9). Based on this information, the one pulling the pranks on this holiday is a fool. According to Ecclesiastes 2:14 a fool "walks in darkness." And one that truly has weight with regards to marriage, Ecclesiastes 5:4 says a fool is one "who doesn't fulfill a vow."

The one that got me most however was Psalm 14:1 and 53:1 (they are identical Psalms) which begin with this verse, "A fool says in their heart there is no God." That person is the most foolish of all. We know there most certainly is an Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Loving, Creator God and we'll all one-day be face-to-face with Him.

Find ways this day to be completely opposite the fool. Seek wisdom. Be loving. Use kind words. Be humble. Work hard. Be obedient. Be trustworthy. Those are things the Lord values.

Discussion: Have you ever been pranked? Have you ever pulled a hoax on someone? How did you feel after both instances? Do you have to work on any of the foolish characteristics listed above?

Prayer: We give all glory and honor to the King of Kings this day. Thank you, Father, for wisdom. May we be diligent to seek it. In Christ, Amen.