Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; (Matthew 9:37 KJV)
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:23 KJV)
Happy Thanksgiving to All!!! Yes, it might be a few days after, but I am just as thankful today as I was on Thanksgiving. It has been a very busy, busy weekend. We spent Thanksgiving with both mine and Anna's family. We had a great time with both families, and after dinner we hit the stores to be a part of the crazy Black Friday sales!!!! Ahhhh!!!! This was mine and Anna's second time at Black Friday shopping together and while we had are list of stuff we were hoping to get, the stuff was not the real reason we were there. We were there because we love people and love meeting new people. I know a lot of people are against the shopping holiday and do not like how Christmas has been commercialized, but when I look at it I see it as Jesus might have seen a huge harvest waiting for laborers, and I want to be in the fields working on reaching them. We are told to get out in the highways and hedges and compel them to come in. I can't reach the lost sitting on my couch eating leftovers with my family that's saved. I got to go we're the people are. On on black friday they are at best buys We got to hit the fields. We are closer today then we ever have been for the return of Jesus Christ and the church today is more Lukewarm then the church of Laodicea! He that hath an ear let him hear!
While many people will talk about how mean the world is and how rude and greedy the world is, I hope Stan and Beth, the older couple that we met in line at Best Buy, will remember how nice and encouraging Anna and I were. We stood in line talking to Stan and Beth for 3 hours and we did everything we could to shine our light (Lord let us be you hands and feet.) Stan and Beth have been married for 32 years. We talked to them about everything, They gave us tips as we prepare for marriage, and my hope and prayer is that we encouraged them to grow closer to the Lord. There are so many people out there that just need a kind person or couple to talk to. You don't have preach a sermon to some one to witness to them, the biggest way you can witness is to live it! Show love and kindness to people. Compel them to come in while there is still time. And what better way to do it then while you are Christmas shopping!
Joseph
Monday, November 26, 2012
It's Going to be Worth It.
If I have learned anything while preparing for mine and Joseph's marriage, it is this: change is inevitable. When we first started dating, change wasn't a choice that I made, it was more like feeling. I was happier, I smiled more, I laughed more, I even read my Bible more, I praised God more. I didn't think about making those changes, they just happened. I knew I things were changing because I felt different. I felt better.
As our relationship continued and got more serious, we had to make decisions that would cause change. Would we get married? Big change. Where are we going to live? Big change. Where are we going to go to church? Big change. Some of these changes were really easy to accept and made us happy happy happy. Other changes were hard to accept, and we really struggled with them (and still do sometimes!) I have to consciously think about making some of these changes.
During the holidays I think about change a lot. I know that this is my last year at home for the holidays. Some things have changed this year, but I know that even more things will change next year because I will not be living at home. Guess what? Change isn't always easy to accept, but we have to accept it. I have learned that as hard as a change might be, we have the power to make our changes worth it. Anytime I am sad or worried about the changes that are upcoming, Joseph tells me, "I promise I'll make it worth it."
I just know that's how God feels about us. When we come to him and when we are in a relationship with him, we change. At first, we just feel better, but later on we have to make changes that are sometimes difficult. We give up things, we don't say the things we used to say, we don't go places we used to go, we don't watch stuff on t.v. that we used to find entertaining. We change everything, and it's not always easy, but be encouraged in the changes you are making for the Lord, He will make it all worth it.
As our relationship continued and got more serious, we had to make decisions that would cause change. Would we get married? Big change. Where are we going to live? Big change. Where are we going to go to church? Big change. Some of these changes were really easy to accept and made us happy happy happy. Other changes were hard to accept, and we really struggled with them (and still do sometimes!) I have to consciously think about making some of these changes.
During the holidays I think about change a lot. I know that this is my last year at home for the holidays. Some things have changed this year, but I know that even more things will change next year because I will not be living at home. Guess what? Change isn't always easy to accept, but we have to accept it. I have learned that as hard as a change might be, we have the power to make our changes worth it. Anytime I am sad or worried about the changes that are upcoming, Joseph tells me, "I promise I'll make it worth it."
I just know that's how God feels about us. When we come to him and when we are in a relationship with him, we change. At first, we just feel better, but later on we have to make changes that are sometimes difficult. We give up things, we don't say the things we used to say, we don't go places we used to go, we don't watch stuff on t.v. that we used to find entertaining. We change everything, and it's not always easy, but be encouraged in the changes you are making for the Lord, He will make it all worth it.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Worth The Wait
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Genesis 29:20 KJV)
This scripture has become one I think about a lot since Anna and I have been dating. Jacob agreed to worked seven years just to marry Rachel. He was tricked by Laban, married Leah, and worked another 7 years for a total of 14 years and an extra wife just to get Rachel. Now that's love and dedication. I can say I am definitely blessed; I only have to wait 2 years and I have only had to move a little furniture to get to marry Anna.
When Anna and I first got engaged, we thought of different dates to get married and times to get married. We thought of May 2012 and we thought of December 2012, but we chose to wait. Why? you ask. Well Anna would still be in school if we got married in May 2012. December is cold. We want the perfect spring wedding. You only get one wedding so why not wait and try to make it perfect? Also, looking back, our engagement has given us time to grow and learn more about each other. At times I feel like I'm waiting seven years because Anna is in school in Bowling Green and I'm at work in Nashville and we don't get to see each other a lot. I wait all week long to see Anna on the weekends and each day that I get to see her, no matter how long the wait is, it makes the wait worth it. Spending 1 day a week with the person you truly love is better then spending 7 with someone you settled for.
I want to encourage you don't settle for something now. Wait for what was promised to you. Jacob could have settled for Leah. But he didn't. If the person you are with now is not your Rachel, don't settle. Trust me She's worth the wait!
Joseph
This scripture has become one I think about a lot since Anna and I have been dating. Jacob agreed to worked seven years just to marry Rachel. He was tricked by Laban, married Leah, and worked another 7 years for a total of 14 years and an extra wife just to get Rachel. Now that's love and dedication. I can say I am definitely blessed; I only have to wait 2 years and I have only had to move a little furniture to get to marry Anna.
When Anna and I first got engaged, we thought of different dates to get married and times to get married. We thought of May 2012 and we thought of December 2012, but we chose to wait. Why? you ask. Well Anna would still be in school if we got married in May 2012. December is cold. We want the perfect spring wedding. You only get one wedding so why not wait and try to make it perfect? Also, looking back, our engagement has given us time to grow and learn more about each other. At times I feel like I'm waiting seven years because Anna is in school in Bowling Green and I'm at work in Nashville and we don't get to see each other a lot. I wait all week long to see Anna on the weekends and each day that I get to see her, no matter how long the wait is, it makes the wait worth it. Spending 1 day a week with the person you truly love is better then spending 7 with someone you settled for.
I want to encourage you don't settle for something now. Wait for what was promised to you. Jacob could have settled for Leah. But he didn't. If the person you are with now is not your Rachel, don't settle. Trust me She's worth the wait!
Joseph
Wedding Guests
I have found that the most special moments in our lives are ones in
which we draw the closest to the people we care about. As Joseph and I
make plans for the wedding, it is so important to us that all the people
we love are with us on our big day, and more
than that we want them to be involved in our big day. I don't want my
sisters to just be at the wedding, I want them to be the bridesmaids.
Our parents will be more than just guests to us, they will have seats of
honor. All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins...
I want them to all be there with me, taking part in my day, even if the
job I give them is just to stand by the guest book. I think God feels
that way about us. Not only does he want us to just come to church, but
he wants us to be a part of the church. He
doesn't need us to do a specific job, but he wants us to feel involved,
because we are special to him.
I think one of the hardest things for me in planning for the wedding though, is knowing that there are people I love, and who I know love me and Joseph as well who will not be there. Some of them have good reasons, I know. There are graduations and things that just can't be missed, but there are some who should just be there. I can't help but think of the parable in Luke that says a certain man had a great banquet and invited many guests, guests who did not come. One had to see about his field, one had some animals to tend to, and one had another wedding to go to. The man throwing the banquet was so upset! He had prepared this great banquet and none of his invited guests were coming. So he went out into the streets and invited whoever he could find. In the end, we find that those men who were invited and did not come were never got a taste of that great banquet. I never ever want to make excuses when God asks me to do something, because ultimately, when the day comes for that great banquet in the sky, there are no excuses. I want to be a part of the wedding that God is going to have with his bride. I want to be there, I want to be a part of it, and I don't want to let anything stand in the way of that.
Anna
I think one of the hardest things for me in planning for the wedding though, is knowing that there are people I love, and who I know love me and Joseph as well who will not be there. Some of them have good reasons, I know. There are graduations and things that just can't be missed, but there are some who should just be there. I can't help but think of the parable in Luke that says a certain man had a great banquet and invited many guests, guests who did not come. One had to see about his field, one had some animals to tend to, and one had another wedding to go to. The man throwing the banquet was so upset! He had prepared this great banquet and none of his invited guests were coming. So he went out into the streets and invited whoever he could find. In the end, we find that those men who were invited and did not come were never got a taste of that great banquet. I never ever want to make excuses when God asks me to do something, because ultimately, when the day comes for that great banquet in the sky, there are no excuses. I want to be a part of the wedding that God is going to have with his bride. I want to be there, I want to be a part of it, and I don't want to let anything stand in the way of that.
Anna
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
He's coming Soon
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7 KJV)
As many of my friends know, I am going to be marrying the amazing Anna Link on May 18,2013. We have made many plans in preparation for this event from the colors to save the dates, what we will serve at the reception to what we will register for, what we will wear to songs and invitations. The wedding is a common topic at the dinner table lately, and I am so excited and looking forward to it. Our wedding day will be one of the most important days of my life.
Just as I plan to marry Anna, there is another wedding that I am looking forward to and have been making plans to attend longer then mine and Anna's. That wedding is the one when Christ comes for his bride. Thinking about it makes me all excited because I begin to think about it to finally seeing Jesus face to face. I find my self humming songs such as "Oh I Want to See Him," "The Unclouded Day," and "He's Coming Soon." It's time for us, as the church, to get ready for our groom. I am learning that you don't just show up to a wedding, there are months of preparations involved. I want to encourage my friends and family to start preparing. Also I want to let you know weddings are a happy time. Jesus coming back is not doom and gloom, it's the greatest love story written.
Joseph
As many of my friends know, I am going to be marrying the amazing Anna Link on May 18,2013. We have made many plans in preparation for this event from the colors to save the dates, what we will serve at the reception to what we will register for, what we will wear to songs and invitations. The wedding is a common topic at the dinner table lately, and I am so excited and looking forward to it. Our wedding day will be one of the most important days of my life.
Just as I plan to marry Anna, there is another wedding that I am looking forward to and have been making plans to attend longer then mine and Anna's. That wedding is the one when Christ comes for his bride. Thinking about it makes me all excited because I begin to think about it to finally seeing Jesus face to face. I find my self humming songs such as "Oh I Want to See Him," "The Unclouded Day," and "He's Coming Soon." It's time for us, as the church, to get ready for our groom. I am learning that you don't just show up to a wedding, there are months of preparations involved. I want to encourage my friends and family to start preparing. Also I want to let you know weddings are a happy time. Jesus coming back is not doom and gloom, it's the greatest love story written.
Joseph
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