Rejoice—you’re the beautiful bride!

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

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

Babies don’t stay babies. Baby Jesus grew up too. Into a man. As an adult, he first revealed his glory and performed his first sign at a wedding (John 2:1-11). Weddings are happy occasions!

And then he found himself his own bride. Who? Us! We have much to be thankful for as the chosen bride of Christ.

Here are five reminders from my niece’s wedding last Sunday about why we should rejoice that we’re Christ’s bride:

1. Bride adorned in beauty
Don’t you love a beautiful bride in her wedding dress? Jenna took this great picture of Amanda in her dress. But our wedding dress outshines even this one: Christ has clothed us in His righteousness!I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10

2. Gathering together
Gathering with so many from my family for the happy occasion was a blessing. These cousins are all close. God created us for community; thank Him that we can celebrate His love with each other.The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD:  “Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Jeremiah 33:11

3. Beautiful singing
My nephew Austin and niece Amber played and sang so beautifully at the wedding. But can you even imagine how beautiful it will be when we’re gathered around the Lord’s throne singing love songs face to face in His presence?And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Revelation 5:9

 4. Feasting at the table
What’s a celebration without food? Andrew, the groom, is an avid golfer so this cake was especially in his honor. God knows each of us by name and need, and opens his hand to satisfy each of our desires (Psalm 145:16). That’s another reason to rejoice.On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
Isaiah 25:6

5. Dancing in celebration
In my religious tribe we don’t do this as often as we need to. We had several sad moments at the wedding, wishing my mom and dad could have been with us. But we still have so much to celebrate now, and we know that one day we’ll all celebrate together forever.Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:13

So, 
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7

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We’re sharing five favorites of our week at Susanne’s. What have you been thankful for this week?