The Wedding

Wedding Dress by Derek Webb - one of my favorite songs :) Listen to it here

I had the absolute honor of being a part of two of my dear friends' wedding day - to share in the day that marked the joining of their lives and being able to rejoice with them! Chana and Zach Johnston, what a beautiful couple and a beautiful wedding day in Jamaica. This couple and their sweet, abundance of love for each other is such a beautiful reminder of how faithful the Lord is. Their love is but a glimpse of how much the Lord's love overflows and surrounds us! Honestly, Chana and Zach's relationship has been such an encouragement to me, especially in my own broken season. How my heart soars and smiles thinking that the two are now one!

Chana and Zach: August 2009

Chan and Zach decided to have a destination wedding and got married on the BEACH in Jamaica this past Thursday. The whole morning was spent in preparation for the wedding - doing our hair, ironing Chana's dress, putting on the make-up, typical wedding stuff. Though we were pushed for time at the end, and Chana so anxiously awaited the moment she could finally meet her lover at the altar, the time spent getting ready was beautiful. Chana is such a lovely bride - i lost it as i watched her getting her hair done! She was and is a vision of beauty and has such a strong love for her husband and serving the Lord. How BLESSED i am to have such a dear friend as her :)!

Chan cried during the entire ceremony - sweet tears of joy and gratitude at how the Lord had provided and given the two to each other. How beautiful were the details of their special day - from the letter Zach had written his future wife when he was 14, Chan's vows to Zach and the fact that Zach was her first and will be her last kiss, the song Zach wrote for his beloved, the moment Zach got to life the veil covering Chana's face and gaze upon his bride. God created such a perfect day weather wise, too - sunny and warm with a light breeze, accompanying the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beach.

Weddings are such an exquisite representation of the Lord and the church - the bridegroom of Christ. The union, the unconditional love - for better or worse, through sickness, health, sorrow, despair, joy, prosperity, that love everlasting. My prayer for Chana and Zach, as with any married couple, is for their relationship to be rooted in the Lord and his overflowing love. For their marriage to build each other up, to sharpen each other, encourage each other, and teach each other. But most importantly, may their love and marriage point to Christ. May it's sole purpose be to serve Him and His people, to minister to the broken, and reach out to the lost.

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you - Isaiah 62:5

I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord. - Hosea 2:19-20

Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it - Song of Songs 8:7