I married my husband again this past Saturday and our special day was everything we wanted it to be and more so.
My cup runneth over.
It’s hard to decide where to begin. How could I possibly describe our day from start to end in one post? Maybe it does not need to be one post.
A little side note: it feels strange to return here with it being so long since I last wrote. But now is not the time to talk about the uncertainty of this blog's future. I shall continue to leave it in God’s hands.
When my husband and I first met with our Executive Pastor to tell him of our desire to renew our wedding vows, we expressed how we wanted the day to be all about God. The renewal of our vows was not about us but about what God had done in our lives and in our marriage since we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. All praise and glory for the twenty-five years we celebrate together must go to Him.
And all praise and glory did go to Him.
He shall even receive all praise and glory for working out every single detail as we planned for our special day. As I look back, I see how He filled the gaps by sending just the right person at just the right time to come along side of us to think of the one detail we had not yet thought of. He guided us in the decision making process and kept us free from worry… with Him at the center our day would be everything He wanted it to be. It would be what He always intended for this day was written in His book long ago.
I realized the evening before we would marry again that we were about to do the very thing Satan had tried to prevent for twenty-five years. Satan decided to step up his game, friends. But our God is stronger.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
After a difficult night, on the morning of our vow renewal day I gathered our family around an oak table in the living room with our hands held tightly together and declared to Satan, “You are not welcome here. You will not steal our joy. We know how the story goes… God wins. And He wins here today too.”
A few hours later I stood in the dressing room of our venue in a wedding dress God had chosen specifically for me with my eyes closed and listened to family and friends in the room next to me join our worship team in singing:
“Let our praise be Your welcome
Let our songs be a sign
We are here for You, we are here for You
Let Your breath come from heaven
Fill our hearts with Your life
We are here for You, we are here for You”
Here For You, by Matt Redman
We welcomed God into that place. His presence filled the room. It was all about Him, just as it should be.
Then our two children, now young adults, each put an arm in one of mine and together we took the walk I had been anxiously waiting to take toward my husband. As we walked across a lovely white runner, which included the words from Mark 10:9 thanks to my mother, our voices continued to give Him praise as we sang:
“For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find”
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord), by Matt Redman
Oh yes, God. There are ten thousand reasons and more for my heart to find.
How do I describe the emotions which came as I reached out my hand to take my husband’s hand in mine with our boys standing beside us, with family and friends surrounding us and with God in our midst? I loved my husband so very much on the day when we first said “I do” but never did I imagine how my love for him would grow over the next twenty-five years. Only God could write such a story.
There is so much more to share with you. Isn’t that so like God? With Him, there is always more. And I will share the “more” with you as time allows and as we receive photos from our photographer.
For now, can you guess how our ceremony ended? From the moment we decided to renew our vows, we knew the ceremony could end only one way. We turned toward our family and friends with joy overflowing and sang, “How Great is Our God!”
Our special day was much more than a renewal of our vows. God gave us a new marriage; a transformation only He could do. All praise and glory went to Him and will continue to go to Him.
Oh the tears! Beth, you are absolutely beautiful, and glowing. How wonderful to renew your vows with God as the center. Love you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteYour story is such a gift from God. Thank you for sharing a piece of it tonight. You radiate love and I was telling a friend that love like that is hard to find and oh so beautiful. I smile every time I see pictures of you and Scott. You both are blessed. Love and hugs friend!
ReplyDeleteBeth,
ReplyDeleteSharing in your unbridled joy!! What a beautiful day and testimony to what God can do! Our God IS able!! I prayed, and am overjoyed that the enemy was defeated by you turning to God and pressing on. We are more than conquerors!! My heart bursts with happiness for you and may this be the beginning of 25+ years to come! God Bless you both...
Blessings, love, and of course - ((hugs)),
Bev
Wow, just Wow! and PTL and JOY overflowing with JOY for you, sweet Beth!
ReplyDeleteI think you should have added a warning in the beginning of this post: "WARNING! Kleenex will be needed!"
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful, Beth. Everything you said, the heart behind the words, the photos of a most stunning bride-again, and her handsome Prince Charming. It was all like a storybook. And yet, I know that it is a story that only God could have written! I am so happy for both of you, and I celebrate alongside the two of you (see me in the audience??). I cannot wait to see what God unfolds in your life together, as He continues to write the story of your marriage, your message. His love makes our love possible. And in moments like this, life just shines!!
GOD BLESS!
(Handsome sons, that's all I've got to add...!)
Oh glory! I've got goosebumps, welling eyes, Beth. I see His love shining through you and the redemption and celebration of your marriage. I am so delighted that you've included us in this special day.
ReplyDeleteExquisite.
BEAUTIFUL!! And inspirational. You radiate love in the pictures. Congratulations on 25 years and I pray you have many more to come.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and special day, Beth! I was hoping you would post pictures of your vow renewal :). You looked amazing and how touching that your grown boys walked you down the aisle. Your dress is gorgeous. I love those songs by Matt Redman. Great choices, my friend. I'm so happy for you and your hubby! Many blessings to you both in your next 25 years and beyond.
ReplyDeleteI've already this and commented on Facebook. But I got excited (again) when I was going through #ThreeWordWednesday links and saw yours. :) Love you, friend. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Beth! I am so amazed that I got to be a part of your ceremony and celebration. It truly was about God, from the opening praise songs, to the last recessional song. What a witness to all in attendance, and to your boys in particular! You and your husband 'made it rain' grace in that place, no question.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings to you in these days busyness and planning, and thank you again for allowing me and my husband to join you on your special day!
Hugs,
Ceil
This is so wonderful and feeling truly blessed to have seen these photos and read your words. Truly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeth,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to how God can weave and strengthen our marriages and families when we obey and let him. I'm so thrilled for you and your husband as you celebrate this 25th year. How neat that your sons and your friends and family could be part of that too. My man and I have been married for 21 years and I've been tempted to do that renewal too.
Hmm. :) Thanks for pointing to Jesus so beautifully in this.
Merry Christmas,
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com