preps and more preps

bought this vintage hat for veil? 

haha. nooooooo.

---

Discipleship with AJ (bridesmaid-mode) while hopping stores in downtown.

i love heart-sharings.

I delight greatly in the LORD;
   my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
   and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, 

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up

   and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness

   and praise spring up before all nations.

-Isaiah 61:10-11

The Bride and the Groom are among the rare creatures
that are pleasing to the eyes. Almost incomparable.
And Isaiah compares that to slavation.
Salvation makes us beautiful.
(if not for God's saving grace,
we will not be here in this season together.
God has saved us from ourselves, our past and our tendencies.
We now understand how important
for two people to have a personal encounter with God,
before entering marriage.
Apart from that, there is no glory.)
Salvation is our glory. And this is only done by Jesus' blood on the cross.
It is like the beauty in a wedding.
Amazing noh?
Conscious sad diay si Isaiah sa mga weddings before noh?
Weddings are head-turners.
It is powerful enough to take us out of our busyness
to chance at two lives beautifully remade to
walk love's journey, for God's will and praise.
...
If the groom takes the lead spiritually (other areas follow),
it is a beauty to behold.
If the bride is bedecked with jewels (grabeh diay sauna noh?),
it is beauty, royalty, and grandness.
It keeps everyone breathless. And God delights at that.
...
God ordains things and events
to show forth His praise and glory!
He causes things!
...
And here we stand proclaiming
"Jesus is our Reason!"
-Gen and Rej

perfection defined

[link from ate rhea annie tulio]

God desires a blameless, spotless bride for His Son. Somebody who is practically perfect. As I walk through this bridal season, I am humbled by the many realizations (revelations in Christianese! =D) God graciously unveils. 


He knew that the Church, the Body of Christ as the Bride of Christ, walks in compromise many times, faltering even in the least details so He unconditionally gave His Son (Romans 5:8---while we were yet singles sinners, Christ died for us!) to wash us clean. It was the Father who paid for the ransom, it was the Son who paid for the beautiful white dress of the Bride, it is for her to keep it untainted until the time her Bridegroom returns. Then she can walk the aisle of grace, everyone amazed at her beauty, mesmerized by her perfection.


But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1Corinthians 15:10 NIV

certified bookworm

[so sorry, poor camera]

As much as we're preparing for the wedding, we both knew we wanted ourselves prepared for the demands, responsibilities and stresses of marriage. I guess reading books about marriage is among the things I need doing. So here I am, trying to devour one despite full-packed days.


Let me know the beauty, let me know the ways. Let me see the glory, let me see a glimpse of those days.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

MOTB

Off we went to check the seamstress. The gown won't look close to this photo, but at least it will have only one strap as I think it will symbolize my one and only love. I'm glad mama doesn't tire accompanying me to the dress shop. And although I chose the entire design, she had lots of very, very useful inputs as to where I get the materials. #soblessed

Yes, mama was very thoughtful to check on the accessories I need to wear (plus I love looking at her choose her pieces for the wedding; I'm so glad that she's excited about it, too!). Because of this, we had lots of trips together at malls granting us a perfect time to have mother-daughter bond. Sigh, I hope she knows how I admire her. She is truly a beautiful woman. Inspiring in every way.

Choosing to own my bridal gown (as I want to wear it every anniversary--whew, hopefully, it will still fit years later!), I will always remember my mother's love in it. I cannot be who I am today firstly because of God's grace and perfecting perfect love, I am so much blessed to receive impartation from a woman who genuinely loves and labors for the Lord. And with that, I am more blessed for she happens to be my mother.