I like the way Angie and Liren went about their wedding preparation. Minimum fuss. Wedding is not about the wedding dress, or the photo shoot, or comparing engagement rings and jewellery (I just want to state for the record that Angie’s wearing the pair of earrings I made for her wedding. Corine did so too, the whole earrings and necklace set! Hee hee!). I’ve always felt this forms a very small part of a wedding. If I can have my way in future, I will want to do away with big affairs, studio photo shoot and any other lavish expenses. I do not want to idle away in silliness over gowns or jewellery or chinaware. Instead, I want to be prepared for the development of a marriage with my best friend. I rather a photo shoot that captures everyday moments like what Maye and Terrance did for A & L. I will treasure that more than studio shots. 

23rd Mar 06 12.50 a.m.

Alvin taught me how to play Lovely Are Thy Dwelling Places. He’s an awesome guitarist and singer! Learnt finally how to play Asus and D2 and how to vary some chords. Amazing! It does sound very different now. I like!

Maye and Terrence did a wonderful photo album for the couple. It was filled with casual, but tender, moments of the couple hanging out. They look so happy, so happy. A state of bliss. A state of togetherness. Doing nothing very much but just enjoying each other’s company. 

Mimei said something which made me look at marriage from another angle. It’s not all about unconditional love from one party alone to sustain it. It’s about a partnership. She remarked, how often do 2 people find their best friends and marry them. It made me think about the foundation of a marriage. It’s a journey of walking with and running along with your best friend, who will honor and cherish you, for the long haul. 

I love what is written on their wedding invite:

On this day I will marry my best friend

The one I laugh with

Cry with

Run with

Dream with

and most of all love

Oh so touching I wanna cry again. Weddings! But yes, this is how I see my life partner. He will be my best friend, who will be my bulwark of strength, to protect me, honor me, walk with me, as I him. And we will laugh together Lots and lots of it!

Mimei shared Proverbs 30:18, 19:

Three things are too amazing to me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.

She explained that these 4 things are such wonderment. Particularly the fourth, marriage. How does a man and woman get along? It’s a mystery. A man and woman will not get along if not for God.

God was there at Angela and Steve’s. I came home (driven home in an MX5!!!) at 11.15 p.m.and immediately whipped out my Old Faithful (my guitar) and continued to worship God. My heart was bursting and aching with longing for God. It’s been my prayer that God alone will satisfy me. Even when my thirst is quenched to let me pant after Him even more, that this longing for Him will never be satisfied until I have more of Him. 

This intimacy is not to be given lightly. Not to be given when I couldn’t handle it or appreciate it or nurture it. This intimate passion will not only warm my soul, but it will refine me through its holy fire. My heart was set ablaze tonight. I just couldn’t put Old Faithful down. Just lingered in God’s presence and let it just wash over me, while I communed with Him. I just kept singing, "Now I’m Yours and You are mine…. I love you, I love You, I love You…" over and over again… "Commune with me… Stay a while with me… I will worship you… Between the wings of the cherumbin, I will stay awhile with You…" Oh… how my soul aches for more of God, to be closer, even closer to my Abba Father…

The most significant moment at their place was what took place during worship. Steve had planned for worship first before the briefing, but time had caught up with us and he plonked right into business right away. He admitted he was flustered and tattering on impatience. It was 9ish and nearly 10 when it was all done, and Mimei said she wanted to do her 20 min very quickly. All of us were wondering what the 20 min were all about. 

It turned out to be the most beautiful worship and exhortation for the couple with worship songs and prayers. It was so moving I teared. Mimei and the couple were moved to tears trickling down their cheeks. And a couple of us were moved. What Steve said stayed with me throughout the night. He was trying to get on with the program. But when we settled down to worship God, he had forgotten what the rush was all about. It just melted away. It was a 20-min he needed. 

I resonated with that. I had wanted to get home ASAP, as it had been a very stressful day at work, and I have 2 dogs that need to be pottied and fed, was worried about Orli not being able to hold his pee, Freckles may vomit if she does’t eat on time. But yes those 20 min were much needed time with the Lord among friends who share a passion for God. Spiritual intimacy with brothers and sisters in the family binds us together.

I think what impressed me most tonight was when a household honors God, the marriage is so beautiful beyond words, touching even those around them. Our lives are infinitely in better hands in God’s than ours. We’ll just mess it up playing God.  God was there. He was awesome in their house! In the depths of my heart, I ache for that in the house I will one day build with my soulmate and best friend.

Lovely are Thy dwelling places
Thristy I come after you

Joshua Harris in I Kissed Dating Goodbye wrote,

"A person’s relationship to God is the defining relationship in his or her life–when this relationship is out of order, every other relationship will suffer.

"Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers," the Bible says (2 Cor 6:14, NLT). Both you and the person you marry must have a dynamic, growing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The question is not merely "Are you and a potential spouse saved?" but rather "Are both of you in love with Jesus Christ? Will you place Him before even each other?"

This is one of those beautiful paradoxes of biblical truth," write David Powlison and John Yenchko. "If you love and want your spouse more than anything, you will end up selfish, fearful, bitter or disillusioned. If you love Jesus more than anything else, you will really love and enjoy your spouse. You will be someone worth marrying!

Do you know you have asked for the costliest thing

Ever made by the Hand above?

A woman’s heart, and a woman’s life–

And a woman’s wonderful love.

Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing

As a child might ask for a toy?

Demanding what others have died to win,

With a reckless dash of a boy.

You have written my lesson of duty out,

Manlike, you have questioned me.

Now stand at the bars of a woman’s soul

Until I shall question thee.

You require your mutton shall always be hot,

Your socks and your shirt be whole;

I require your heart be true as God’s stars

And as pure as Heaven your soul.

You require a cook for your mutton and beef,

I require a far greater thing;

A seamstress you’re wanting for your socks and shirts–

I look for a man and a king.

A king for the beautiful realm called Home,

And a man that his Maker, God,

Shall look upon as He did on the first

And say, "It is very good."

I am fair and young, but the rose may fade

From this soft young cheek one day;

Will you love me then ‘mid the falling leaves,

As you did ‘mong the blossoms of May?

Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,

I may launch my all on its tide?

A loving woman finds heaven or hell

On the day she is made a bride.

I require all things that are grand and true,

All things that a man should be;

If you give this all, I would stake my life

To be all you demand of me.

If you cannot be this, a laundress and cook

You can hire and little to pay;

But a woman’s heart and a woman’s life

Are not to be won that way.