3 Things I Learned At A Wedding

Jesse Birkey's picture

A gentle breeze weaved through those of us gathered.  It lightly kissed exposed skin before twirling into the trees.  I lifted my hand to shield my eyes from the setting sun and shifted beside my wife. 

 

Two people stood in front of us.  A man and a woman.  One wore a tailored tuxedo and the other a brilliant white dress.  Behind them a pastor spoke the typical words you’d hear at any wedding.  He was a passionate man evidenced by his gestures and inflections.  But his part was almost over.

 

My friend let go of his bride’s hands and rustled in the pocket of his jacket.  When his hand reappeared a sheet of white paper came with it.  He’d written his own vows.  His beautiful bride gave him a smile that captured the glow of the sun.  

 

I learned three things in the moments that followed.  All had a profound impact on my heart.

 

1.     There’s a bit of Jesus in us all

 

 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.  –Gen 1:17

 

My friend has not made a decision to follow Jesus with his life.  But when he read his vows the great and mighty love of God stirred and swirled all around us.  The words he spoke could’ve only come from a love much deeper than he knew.  He doesn’t know Jesus personally but in that moment the words pouring through his mouth flowed from the throne.  It was absolutely beautiful. 

 

Random acts of kindness are not accomplished only by those who love and follow Jesus.  Christians are not the only ones who can operate as vessels pouring blessings into a person’s life.  In fact, there are times in which the secular world looks more like Jesus than Christians do.

 

But we know that every good gift comes from God and in Him there is no darkness at all (James 1:17, 1 John 1:5).  The things that lift up and exalt hearts in love come from God.  If it’s not dark it’s light and I’d venture to say that there are times in your own life when light shinned through a person who’s made no commitment to Jesus and it impacted you.

 

This is not a statement or theological position on salvation.  We know the greatest lover who ever loved.  When the light shines in us we know Him and love Him and know we are loved by Him.  The secular world doesn’t.  It’s foreign to them.  But their lack of knowledge doesn’t mean the light can’t shine through the darkness and impact your heart.

 

2.     God will take what He can get

 

Through a worldly lens it might make sense that God would be standoffish to a person who’s lived their life for themselves and are suddenly touching a piece of His heart. 

 

But as I was feeling the love of God circulate the area I also felt His immense joy.  There was no holding back on His end. He was taking whatever He could get and was nothing but smiles.

 

There is no spite in God.  I’m convinced that while He always wants to see us moving forward and being transformed into His image, God meets us where we’re at and just absolutely loves relationship on whatever level that can happen.

 

It’s because He adores us.  He will never stop pursuing us.  How deep and wide is that love!

 

3.     This should affect the way I look at people

 

Look for that treasure buried in the hearts of others.  When you behold another you are behold the image and likeness of God.  That is person is just as much the object of God’s affection as you are.  Look for the things in people that look like Jesus and call it out.  Encourage them in it.  Relate to them in it.

 

Other followers of Jesus aren’t the only ones God can use to bless your life. 

 

Blessings,

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey

 

www.jessebirkey.com

[email protected]

twitter.com/JesseBirkey

http://www.facebook.com/jesse.birkey

http://www.amazon.com/author/jessebirkey

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey are committed lovers of Jesus who seek to show others the extraordinary life of Jesus is available for everyone.  They have authored two books, been featured in films and seek to serve the Lord in whatever ways they can.  Follow their blog here.    

 

Bring Jesse and Kara to your venue.  Find more information here.

 

Get a sneak preview of Jesse’s upcoming fiction, Finding Home.

 

Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People has been endorsed by Sid Roth and Mark Virkler and is a collection of inspiring stories making it clear that the extraordinary life of Jesus is available to all who love Him.  It’s also the testimony of Jesse’s life, the road he travelled bringing him into the arms of Jesus. Get the paperback here.  Get the Kindle Version Here. View the trailer here.    

 

Marriage What’s the Point? One couple finds meaning in a crazy mess is the story of their marriage—The tragedy and the restoration.  They bear their hearts in an attempt to get others to bear theirs and finally receive the freedom they’ve longed for.  Get the paperback here.  Get the Kindle Version Here.

 

Jesse is also featured in the film DeadRaiser, a movie shining the spotlight on resurrection testimonies across the nation.  Find more information here.

 

Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 1 - 10 of 479

Pages

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 305 Pages | Retail: $16.99

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?


Price: $14.95

Dialogue with God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 296 Pages

This top seller for 30 years from Bridge Logos provides a narrative, right-brain presentation of the principles of how to hear God's voice. Especially enjoyable for personal use, it makes a great gift for introducing a loved one to the voice of God. This book teaches the four keys to hearing God's voice in readable style, and also devotes two entire chapters to moving samples of people's journaling (i.e. their two-way dialogue with God).

Price: $17.95
Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

9 Books | 10 CDs | 10 DVDs | Save Over 20%

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don't seem to be going your way and your prayers aren't answered the way you had hoped, wouldn't it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life? Are you ever just a little bit jealous of others who say with such confidence, "The Lord said...."?

Price: $175.00

How to Hear God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 317 Pages

We recommend that you order the newest revision of this book titled 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. It includes 95% of the content of How to Hear God's Voice but is reorganized so it fits perfectly with the 10 DVDs on this subject by Mark Virkler. In addition, it gets you started using the four keys earlier in the book and gives you more journaling samples and exercises. Since we have removed the large margins, it is a smaller and less expensive book.

Price: $24.95

Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 320 Pages

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith. 

Price: $19.95

Twelve Weeks to Spiritual Mastery - Group Coaching

A group coaching experience with Mark Virkler

Because I could not find a Spirit-anointed teacher/coach, I spent ten extremely frustrating years seeking to hear God’s voice!!! Suggestions offered did not help me, things like: “You just know that you know. It is a still small voice. He speaks from your heart.” No one could give me the answer I needed which was: Hearing God’s voice is as simple as quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, recognizing His voice as spontaneous, flowing thoughts and writing down His flow as it is coming. Test what you have written after the flow is done, NOT while it is occurring.

Price: $1,200.00

Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 146 Pages

Have you ever been defeated by negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, inferiority, condemnation or depression? Have you tried to fight them off unsuccessfully? Is there an answer that is deeper than simply trying to mentally reason yourself out of these emotions? Is there a way that Jesus can speak a word of life into the depths of your emotional despair and bring healing on a deep level? Is there a form of Christian counseling that begins and ends with the movement of Christ within your heart, rather than simply with the words of man?

Price: $10.95
Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook Cover

Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 92 Pages

A newer book has been released that accompanies this workbook: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural", with almost a million views just on YouTube).


Do you often wake up feeling there was a significant message in your dream, but you’re just not sure what it is? Like Daniel and Joseph, do you long to be able to help others understand their own dreams and win them to Christ as you explain His night messages to them? Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive mid-course corrections from the Lord while you sleep? Do you wish you could be receiving divine inspiration, creative solutions to problems, and direction from the Lord during that third of your life that you’re “just” sleeping?

Price: $11.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 292 Pages

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

It is always fun to be on the winning team. Well look what God has done with Charity's new dreams teaching. It has taken off like a rocket with a live TV interview on Cornerstone Network and her Sid Roth interview which has almost a million views on YouTube!

Price: $16.99

Everyday Angels

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock 289 Pages

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $16.99

Pages