Jesus in All Things

Brandon and I have been engaged for about eight months now, and I can feel in my heart that Satan is doing everything in his power to have a foothold in our relationship. The long distance part of our relationship certainly doesn't help. However, today I am rejoicing despite the anguish that has overcome my heart the past few days. The battle has already been won by Christ, and it is so encouraging to know that we are supposed to keep fighting until Jesus comes back again. However, we cannot fight alone. We must simply ask for help. There are days when I feel I can do it all on my own, and then Jesus quietly reminds me that I am missing something: humility and an authentic desire to glorify Him in ALL things. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 says, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Even in the sorrows and sufferings, Jesus is present.

Brandon can be stubborn sometimes, but God knew that he needed someone who could be patient with him. I am very passive and fearful at times, but God knew that I needed someone who was bold, passionate, and brave. He's not perfect, and I'm not either, but that's what is so beautiful. Each day we are reminded of how much we need a loving Savior. We celebrate the fact that He has freely given us this grace so that we can also show grace to one another.

I am reminded of the verse in Ecclesiastes 4 that says, "a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Marriage is not just about me and Brandon. Without Jesus, it is impossible. I cannot imagine what my relationship with Brandon would look like without Christ, for it is only by His love that we know how to love one another. It is only by His forgiveness that we know how to forgive. And it is only by His sacrifice on the cross for our sins that we are able to learn how to die to ourselves and better serve one another with the intention of glorifying God in all that we do.

Engagement Pictures

The Square is in downtown Denton, and we have so many memories there-from the very beginning when we started dating in August of 2009 to when Brandon proposed in October of 2011!

We're sitting on the same bench where he shared his heart with me and then proposed! You can read the story here.

My beautiful ring!

Next we went to Zera's, which is a Christian-based local coffee shop in Denton where B and I have spent time with one another and close friends. They recently renovated the location, and this is where we will be having our reception!

We sat at this exact table in the Spring of 2011 when both of us talked about what God was doing in our lives in regards to the future. Brandon was about to graduate from UNT and start the interview process, and I still had a year and a half left of school. Lots of transitions, but so thankful that God showed us how to trust Him!

We love their coffee!

Finally, we went to an awesome field in Denton that Zac and Kaitlin recommended. The weather was perfect, the sunset was absolutely beautiful, and it was so much fun celebrating what God is doing in our lives.

We love dancing!

We bought these letters at Hobby Lobby and then sponge painted them!

The day we say "I DO!"

Zac and Kaitlin even bought balloons for us to use in the different shots. Such a creative idea!

Special thanks to Zac and Kaitlin Photography for such a fun day!

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