Celebrate Marriage in your Christian Community
I love to celebrate. It’s who I am. I’m always looking for an excuse to host a party. I have a feeling Jesus felt the same way. We all know He performed His first miracle at a wedding - turning water into wine. And I can just imagine Jesus and His disciples celebrating each conversion with a s’more around the campfire at the end of the day.
Jesus loved people, so celebrating came naturally to Him. I would love to see Christians follow His example and celebrate God’s blessings more often!
THE CHURCH NEEDS TO CELEBRATE MARRIAGE. As I look at the things that we, the church, celebrate, I notice a lack of celebration over marriage. We definitely will celebrate the wedding of two beautiful young people who are full of hope and promise, and maybe we’ll celebrate the less shiny faces of the saints who have survived ‘til their golden 50th Wedding Anniversary, but we don’t do well with all those milestones in between. Those years are the tough ones, every one deserves recognition. Each year a couple honors their covenant with God and their spouse in marriage is an admirable event.
Celebrate every single year that your marriage triumphs over the world, sin and the busyness of life!
When you meet with your Christian brothers and sisters in your church family, make it a point to celebrate God’s grace and love demonstrated in each marriage on the anniversary of their wedding. This celebration doesn’t have to be as grand as that for a 50th anniversary. It can be a mention of thanksgiving in corporate prayer, a round of applause, a handful of well-thrown rice, or a slice of home-made cake fed to each other bride and groom style😍. All of these are appropriate and will celebrate the couple’s commitment to each other and give God the glory! These kinds of celebrations help to remind us of what is really important and help keep our marriage on every one’s mind and on the prayer list of our Christian family. Marriages need our support and our prayers.
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4)!”
And as you adopt a rhythm of celebrating, remember to celebrate other important events too! Celebrate the sobriety in a person redeemed from addiction, celebrate God’s answers to prayer, celebrate the birth of babies and new believers, celebrate the anniversary of salvation and of water baptism, and, of course, celebrate those birthdays! All of this celebrating will bring glory to God and give you new ways to show Christ’s love to your brothers and sisters.
If we want to emulate the early church who lived life together well, and I hope we do, we must up our game. Yards and garages may separate us from our neighbors today, but celebrations can draw us together! I believe that celebrating can also be the way that we meet the goal Paul penned for us in Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say, Rejoice!”
MY NEXT CELEBRATION. My oldest child, JP, turns 30 this year, and I am already busy planning his birthday party – a “trip around the world” via a five-course meal with pairing. I have purchased new kitchen tools, and have been busy researching new recipes from faraway lands. I want each course/destination to be memorable. I am busy practicing recipes too. The first course starts in Mexico and we will travel through Russia, Greece, India and Italy. I can’t wait for the dessert course- cannoli! I plan to make my first batch this week. I love the crunch and sweetness of cannoli- it looks tricky, but I’m up for he challenge! As Italy is the final destination of my son’s birthday meal, I will practice this sweet treat until I get it perfect so we end the trip with a bang 😊!
JP and his wife have invited their church friends to join our family in celebrating this special day. I am looking forward to spending the evening with them. This “world tour” should be a great adventure … minus the jet lag. I hope everyone wears their stretchy pants 😊!
Stay washed in the Word, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Do you have an anniversary coming up? It is time to celebrate!
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord (Psalms 150:1-6 ESV)!”
