"it just doesn't get much better than this"

Somedays I get into bed and find myself thinking "I hope tomorrow is as good as this day has been".

Other nights I'll crawl into bed, close my eyes, just eager to move on to the next 24 hours.

God never promises 'better' days.

He promises new ones.

Today was one of those "I hope tomorrow has some good stuff in store because it's going to be pretty tough to top what just happened" kind of days. With a best friend's wedding, on a perfect fall day in the hometown, I am confident that you would find yourself thinking the same thing.

So when I found myself hashing out tomorrow's agenda, I had to think back to some familiar passages.

Lamentations 3:22 & 23 "For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness"

And it's the fact that tomorrow is new that I am excited to close my eyes. Not because the day was bad, and not because I'm ready to get through a long week. But because my Creator God, is creating tomorrow new for me!

I heard once that essentially God could have everything calculated out, and running on a set pattern. Yet instead, He says to the sun every morning 'do it again' - He creates the sunrise each day.

I love newness. New isn't based on the past, it is independent. I love that yes, somedays it seems that it can't get better - but too, that there are days where 'the shadow proves the sunshine'.

So tomorrow will be new and with that I'll call it a day!

The Lord your God is with you

What a beautiful promise.

Reading that on a 'normal' Tuesday, it strikes me differently than I usually consider it.

The Lord.

your God.

is with you.

Now-

at this moment when I am doing homework and crossing off things from my to-do list.

The Lord, my God, is with me.

In the routine- He isn't bored. He definitely isn't stressed about finding time to accomplish what's next. He isn't on reserve until a major crisis comes up.

He is with me.

And if that weren't enough- the verse continues by saying that "He takes great delight in me"!

How precious a love the Father has lavished on me! I am grateful to be called HIS child today.

Zephaniah 3:17

Say Yes to the Dress

Weddings. Dresses. Flowers. Pictures. Music. Romance.

My 'passion' for weddings is nothing new.

Interning as an event planner this summer only added fuel to the fire. Movies like '27 Dresses' and shows like 'Say Yes to the Dress' or 'Whose Wedding is it Anyway' help me get my fix on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

"Many of our most selfish desires are hidden behind the white-laced veil of marriage."

This is a quote from what Greg Pinkner shared at Crossroad last night, to say that it struck a cord with me would be an understatement.

Last night was a night that God had ordained to be the night for me to begin a journey of really getting to the core of my beliefs and expectations of marriage. No longer would we (God or I) be okay with allowing this idol (to be completely honest) that I had created for myself to exist in my life.

The process of 'idol removing' began by studying the Word of God as recorded by Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33. It's hard to miss the constant comparison between husbands and wives with that of Christ and the church. In a way, it's more than just a comparison- wives and husbands are because of Christ and the church.

My view of marriage is skewed. My view of marriage is selfish. My desire for marriage is for my benefit. And up until last night, I hadn't quite come to terms with that.

Now is the point where, after the initial impact that that statement had on me, I must allow God to move me on from that point.

"Many of our most selfish desires are hidden behind the white-laced veil of marriage."

It's time for me to get real with myself.

Here's to continuing on the journey.