Being the Best Me

Hello! I have missed ya'll! I haven't been here for a little while. I kinda got a little side tracked & busy with all things wedding! God worked out the kinks & i have my reception paid, I GOT A RING!!!!! & most of all i am getting a wonderful husband that thirsts after God :) I really have NO IDEA how God decided to bless me so greatly in spite of my flawed views of selfish wanting, but He did! I am extremely greatful & praise Him for all He has accomplished because in my own strength i just couldn't have gotten it all done! I read a blog today about Esther 9 & it grabbed me & pulled me in. She came BOLDY to the throne.......why don't WE as people get that? We can aproach God's throne anytime, anywhere, just like Esther could. Why do we choose to flounder, worry & wonder when all we have to do is throw ALL our cares before Him? The best part is He has already seen what will happen & can prepare us for it all, yet here we are stumbling around, worried if we can pay our bills, have enough food, if gas will get higher! WAKE US UP GOD PLEASE! Remind us of Your Grace & Mercy, Remind us of your Faithfulness & Love. Give us peace in the midst of such turmoil & hurt. Help us remember WE CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT YOU! & that for you it is nothing but to speak a few words! I love you God for all you have given & all you have taken because i am learning to trust you more every day! Love your daughter Elisa

Marriage - State Permission or God's

So i am 6 weeks away from my wedding. I am excited, nervous, thrilled, happy, worried & stressed! I want our day to be perfect! I started crossing off the last few things on my list of things to do & Marriage Liscence popped out at me. I am not quite sure what made me do it, but i decided to research the requirements for a marriage liscence. As i began reading, the biggest thing i noticed is there is NO BIBLICAL statement that a marriage ceremony or contract by law is required for being joined in Holy matrimony before God. I find that extrememly interesting. God of course expects us to be united under HIS laws, but the Bible is very non-descriptive of exactly what we are to do LEGALLY. As i continued researching, i cam across a post from a pastor who told a few stories. One of them was about a mother who was told by the state they were going to remover her child from her home for a period of 48hours till they could check the situation out for child abuse. When she questioned on what authority they had to remove her child, they stated by your marriage & birth certificates you signed you gave the state permission. WHAT?!!! Have you ever checked into exactly the seriousness of signing a birth certificate & what exactly it means? For that matter a marriage liscence? Wikipedia: A marriage license (American English) or marriage licence (British English) is a document issued, either by a church or state authority, authorizing a couple to marry. The procedure for obtaining a license varies between countries and has changed over time. Marriage licenses began to be issued in the Middle Ages, to permit a marriage which would otherwise be illegal (for instance, if the necessary period of notice for the marriage had not been given). Did you read that? "to permit a marriage that would otherwise be illegal"........who's law do we follow when we are getting married? Who implimented marriage? God did! So what purpose does a marriage liscence serve when, if a man asks a womans father for permission, as head of that family & permission is granted? What purpose does it serve when the couple come before witness's & before God agreeing to live by God's laws of matrimony? Who are we requesting permission from by obtaining it? GOD or the state? This brings me to, do i want to even open this door? I am going to seriously pray about this matter. WHen you sign any document it becomes LEGAL & BINDING in a COURT OF LAW. If you sign a state liscence request, you are requesting them to give you permission over a GOD GIVEN right. How can they? THey are not God. ANy thoughts on this are appreciated if you can give me Biblical knowledge & Biblical perspective. I am not saying i am against marriage by any means, just not sure how i feel now about marriage liscences.