Mountain Wedding

I did something that I thought I would never do in my entire life: I *"crashed" a wedding, that is I showed up at a wedding for which I had not received an invitation. In fact, I didn't even really know the bride or groom. Yet, the Lord was directing it in an amazing way and I was a witness to seeing His mighty hand work.

On my way home from Indianapolis, Indiana on a recent trip I was to stay with my great aunt in West Virginia. On the day of my arrival at her house there was to be a very small wedding at her church. Originally, I had planned to arrive after the wedding would have been over. However, the Lord woke me up quite early that morning and I just could not sleep! What else could I do but get up and prepare for departure? The wedding was at 2 p.m. and I had a 5 hour drive. I arrived at just after 1 p.m. and quickly changed into clothing more suitable for a wedding. Gratefully, I had met the bride to be two weeks previous on my way to Indy.

It was a very small and simple wedding yet it holds priceless life lessons. The wedding was so small that there were only about 25-30 guests. The couple had been living in sin but when they both recently got saved a few weeks ago the Lord convicted them of their sin and that they should get married. Originally they were just going to go to a justice of the peace but that little baptist church decided they would give them a wedding and they came together and did just that! This couple is very poor, so poor that they don't even own a car, yet the Lord provided a dress, a suite, rings, cake, and decorations. And all in three weeks time!

My dear sisters in Christ could definitely learn a lesson from this bride on modesty. This bride was 100% committed to modesty. First of all, modesty IS inconvenient and not always fashionable. All too often Christian brides do their best to find modest wedding gowns in a world committed to just the opposite. They are committed to it until it is inconvenient, and rarely do you find a bride who sacrifices on fashion. They would rather bow to the world than suffer anything unfashionable. Here, a mere babe in Christ influenced by the Holy Spirit chose modesty even though it might look odd or unfashionable. This beautiful bride wore a gown with modifications. In addition to the gown she wore a "cape" to cover a sleeveless bridal gown. It was an improvisation, it did not originally come with the dress that could be told but it certainly complimented the dress. Before the Lord the spirit of this bride was beautiful. She had a rare jewel at her wedding that is tragically lacking in many weddings of "mature" Christians. I wish I had a picture to post, but alas I had forgotten the camera at home that trip! 

I wish you could have seen the soft glow on the brides face as she said her wedding vows for the first time. The glow and joy of one who had sinned, but now was obeying and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now for the icing on the cake, for that's not all. The next day was Sunday and during the evening service the brides mother also attended, became convicted, and got right with God!!

That was one amazing weekend and I was blessed to see God's hand work in incredible ways.

*Please note: I do not recommend "crashing weddings" on a regular basis, with extremely rare exceptions it is very rude.