The Past Few Months

It's been awhile since I've written because this past semester has been really busy with school, but now that it's summer, I can share a few things that we have crossed off the list!

-Purchasing my wedding dress
-Rehearsal/dinner dress
-Leaving the reception dress
-Cake
-Bridesmaid dresses
-Flower girl dresses
-Brandon's wedding ring
-Reception location
-Wedding website
-Invitation template

This Memorial Weekend we will take engagement pictures, enjoy cake testing, and register for wedding gifts at Target and Bed Bath and Beyond! In the midst of all of this, Brandon and I have been reading "The Meaning of Marriage" by Timothy Keller, and God is really showing me what it look like to serve Brandon as his wife. Our broken culture today tells us that relationships should be all about us-that we should be self-seeking, self-glorifying, and that another person shouldn't get in the way of that. However, the counter idea to that within Christianity is that when we choose to put our spouse before ourselves, Christ is glorified. Philippians 1:21 says, "To live is Christ-to die is gain." We must literally die to ourselves if we desire to serve our spouse. The Gospel shows us that this is a reflection of what Christ did for us, and it is such a beautiful picture of what marriage looks like. "We love because He first loved us." ---1 John 4:19

I plan on posting more this summer while I am living and working back in home in Austin! I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family!

Perspective

I was doing some research and came across some interesting facts on this site. It is crazy to think that 45 years ago, interracial marriage was still illegal in some states, and I am thankful that through the initiatives of many people in our society, interracial marriage is legal today.

-In the 1660s, Maryland became the first colony to prohibit interracial marriages. 1

-By 1750, all the southern colonies as well as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania made interracial marriages illegal. 1 For example, Virginia had a law stating that "All marriages between a white person and a colored person shall be absolutely void without any decree of divorce or other legal process." (Code Ann. A7 20-57)

-During the 1950s, half of the states still had laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

-By the early 1960's at least 41 states had enacted anti-miscegenation statutes at one time. 1

-in Maryland, when slavery was introduced in 1664, "the law also prohibited marriages between white women and black men.... between 1935 and 1967, the law was extended to forbid marriage between Malaysians with blacks and whites. The law was finally repealed in 1967." 2

-The first court to overturn an anti-miscegenation law was, predictably, the California Supreme Court in 1948. 3

-By 1967, 16 states still had anti-miscegenation laws in place.

References used:
1. "Lewis et al., v. Harris, et al. Superior Court of New Jersey: Brief of plaintiffs in opposition to defendant's motion to dismiss," 2003-MAY-8, at: http://www.lambdalegal.org/
2. Eddie Becker, "Chronology on the history of slavery and racism," at: http://innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html
3. Perez, supra, 198 P.2d 17. Quoted in Ref. 1.

One Year

Exactly one year from today, I will be walking down the aisle as Ms. Weldin, and leaving The Village Church as Mrs. Nase.

The reality of everything is starting to set in-that after today, the countdown begins. This is my last year as a "single" woman. This is my last year to have a roommate other than my future husband. This is my last summer to live at home. This is my last Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family.

When my heart starts to flutter as I think about the checklist of things to accomplish within this next year, I am reminded that if Christ is the center, that is all that really matters.

A year from today will be one of the happiest days of my life, but the greater celebration is with our Father when He comes again to bring us Home. I will admit, it is easy for me to say that in my mind, but not with my heart. However, my prayer for this next year is that I would praise Him, thank Him, and be reminded that the joy belongs TO Him, and not for my own glory.

Proverbs 27:15-17

I was reminded of this passage when I was talking with my roommate last weekend. A relationship requires commitment and hard work as each person is sanctified in their relationship with Christ. Marriage is a continual sanctification process, like the sharpening of iron upon iron. I know that the Lord is calling me to be patient while both Brandon and I are being tested in our relationship, and steadfastly praying that He continues to draw us closer to Him.


"A continual dripping on a rainy day
and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
to restrain her is to restrain the wind
or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.
Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another."

The Spirit and the Bride

I saw this song by Matt Maher on my friend Hannah's Facebook status, and the words are so beautiful and completely fitting, so I decided to share them. You can also check out the song here!

"For all the thirsty in need of the river
For all the sleeping hearts waking from their slumber
For everyone still standing at the shoreline, come!
For all the hurting soul running from their Healer
For all the skeptics running from an answer
Let everyone who hears these words, say come!

For the Spirit and the Bride, say come!
Yeah the Spirit and the Bride, say come!

For all the Pharisees, empty on the inside
For all the lovers who spent their love in a lie
For the forgotten, the Father's heart, say come!
For all the fatherless looking for approval
For all the daughters who've never heard the are beautiful
Let everyone who hears these words, say come!

Amen, Amen, come Lord Jesus, come again!
Until then, until then grace and peace be ours, Amen!
Till You come again peace be ours, Amen!"

"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." -Revelation 22:17

One Month

Beyonce said, "If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it." And Brandon did just that! It's officially been one month since he proposed, and I am still just as giddy as ever! Early tomorrow morning my roommate Lillian and I are traveling to Amarillo to spend the Thanksgiving break with Brandon and his family. I cannot wait for laughter, great food, family, friends, and fellowship! It is so wonderful to be able to reunite with a body of believers and celebrate the things God has given us. I am so blessed with the family that I am "marrying into," and have never felt more love than I have with his family. I'm sure this is just a small taste of what it will be like when we are reunited with Jesus Christ in Heaven. John 14:2-4 says, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE! Happy Thanksgiving!

Bloodlines

On Sunday October 30th, I went to church at The Village. At the end of the 5:00 service, Beau Hughes mentioned a new book that John Piper wrote called Bloodlines. We also watched a short video featuring John Piper and this book. I was so encouraged by the message behind the book and immediately wanted to share it with Brandon.

After I left church, I noticed that Brandon had called me, so I called him back. He said, "I just sent you an email." I said, "Oh ok, I'm going to get groceries, but I'll check it as soon as I get back to my apartment. What was the email about?" He said, "Just read it when you can."

So, I started telling Brandon about the book Bloodlines. There was silence on the other end of the phone line. He said, "Are you kidding me right now? I think I'm going to start crying again. I just sent you an email about this new book that I happened to come across on the Resurgence website called Bloodlines. I just ordered us two copies."

I was so overwhelmed at that moment. I was happy, but I wanted to cry. My heart was overflowing with love for both my Father and my fiance. But in all things, Jesus was so clear. While I was sitting in church, and as Brandon was sitting at home, over 300, miles away, the Lord showed us Bloodlines.

Later that evening, I opened my Gmail inbox to find Brandon's email, sent at 6:33 p.m. (at about the same time I was sitting in church watching that video), which said: "I was crying like a baby while watching this. I just ordered two copies for us. How amazing that as we enter this new time, I just happened to stumble upon this on the Resurgence website. Thank you Jesus."


I couldn't agree more. You can watch the full video here.