GraceFox

Today’s guest blogger is Marcia Lee Laycock. She won The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone. The sequel will be released this fall. Marcia also has published two devotional books. Thanks for joining us, Marcia!

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We were on our way to the reception when we saw them. The wedding party was gathered by a small bridge in a local park, milling around while the photographer got set up. The men looked dapper in their tuxes and top hats, though they had to hold onto them. The bridesmaids were holding on too – to their coats. And the bride held on to her veil and huddled in a quilt while the photographer tried to arrange the pose. Though it was spring, the day was low with clouds threatening rain or maybe snow, and the wind was unrelenting.

It was a brief glimpse I caught of that scene, from my car window as we sped by, but the image is frozen in my mind. I suppose it’s not such an unusual one – weddings happen on all kinds of days. The thing that makes it stay with me, however, is the brightness of the smiles, the tilt of laughing faces, the obvious joy in spite of the surrounding circumstances. Though that bride was wrapped in a quilt to try and keep warm, her face was radiant, her eyes sparkling. Though I could not hear her laughter, it was obvious it was ringing through the air. Though I saw only a glimpse it was obvious who her attention was focused on. There was one young man dressed in a tux who had totally captured her attention. She was completely convinced of his unconditional love and I doubt that even snow could have dampened the joy of this day, the day she was joined in marriage with him.

The Bible tells us that we too, are a bride. We are the bride of Christ. We are irrevocably united with Him on the day we open our hearts to Him, accept His forgiveness and allow Him to direct our lives. When Jesus is the focus of our attention the way that bridegroom was the focus of that young bride’s attention, the circumstances around us are immaterial. When we know God loves us unconditionally and we love Him back, nothing else matters. Come rain or come shine, our joy is boundless.

Jesus tells us how to capture that joy, how to sustain and maintain it. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you,” He said in John 15:9; and He continued – “Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15: 10,11).

Come rain or come shine, our joy will be steadfast if we stay focused on our bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

<p><a href=”http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=921″>Image: Aleksandr Kutsayev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>