Happy Wedding Day, Matt and Grace 💕

Susan Dixon Photography LLC

Happy Wedding Day!

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 
32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Happy Wedding Day!
My heart is overjoyed to know the LORD has made today for Himself,  His glory, and we are privileged to witness your covenant wedding vows to Him and one another!  ❤️
I’m soo thankful He has been so very pleased to give you one another, because you have waited for Him! 

 This mystery is profound, ...

See you soon! 🥰

❤️ Always, Mom

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Cleansed by the Washing of Water with The Word

Susan Dixon Photography LLC

28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 

30 because we are members of his body.

Before I continue, I want to first go back to point out and re-emphasize this very valuable key point of the Word playing a vital role in the way a husband loves his wife sacrificially...

26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 

Why? 
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

I will always pray that this very special role you play, Matt, as a husband will be prized and by much communion with Christ daily, you’ll trust Him to equip you to spiritually lead Grace to Him to be purified and washed with His Word!! 

So again, ...
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 
30 because we are members of his body.

May your marriage be pure to His praise and glory, and full of joy for knowing you are united with Christ as He presents you spotless before Our Father! 

❤️ always, Mom

Happy Wedding Day Eve 🥰

PS- I want to encourage you to take time today to ponder the lyrics of the hymn: The Church’s One Foundation by SJ Stone, 1866

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Husbands, Love Your Wives as Christ

Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Ephesians 5 continues-
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

If either of you ever question your ability to love one another well, look to Christ and thank Him for sacrificially loving and claiming you for His own!! 
If you need another example, read the story of Hosea and Gomer.  What an awesome story that parallels the sacrificial love Christ displayed by redeeming us and covering our shame so that He may present us w/out shame before His Father! 
❤️ Always, Mom

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

God’s Order for Marriage

 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.  

Praying you’ll find comfort in this!  Purpose to take pleasure in knowing and yielding to God’s provision and protection for the order of your relationship/marriage. 
This is for your joy and peace, but ultimately His glory! 
❤️ always, Mom

Thomas Cleland Funeral

How to Submit to Your Husband, as to the Lord

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 
Ephesians 5


How?

-Have a heart that is receptive to the filling of the Spirit.
-Address one another..., having adequately prepared your heart by singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
-Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so [you] might more willingly submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

As you begin to submit to one another, I am asking the LORD to unify your aim and help each of you to better understand His sacrificial love and are.
I pray you will bear fruit in keeping with the unity Paul encourages in this book as you seek to know the LORD better, and one another. 

❤️ Always, Mom

Photo:  Susan Dixon Photography, LLC

Be Filled with the Spirit

I’m thankful for the LORD’s timely encouragement to me of this truth this evening, and I pray it encourages you! 

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I pray as you walk in the Light of God’s presence that you will remember this, that the will of the LORD cannot be surpassed by the best filling and satisfying gift of His grace and provision.  His will is to “... be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the LORD with your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

This is such a profound discipline to overcome the darkness when you are faced with hard times. 

❤️always, Mom

Stepping in the Light

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s_3DFGP0bBI

Good morning,
Do you remember this song, Matt?  
We were introduced to it by our homeschool curriculum.  We learned one hymn a month, it was such a blessing to sing together to encourage our faith and walk with the LORD!  Y’all were so much younger so you may not remember singing them as much as I do!  I treasure those days with you!! 

This morn, I want to encourage you with this  wise counsel...
Ephesians 5-
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

I pray your confidence in Christ will be strengthened as you walk daily in the light of His presence.  
Psalm 36 is excellent meditation on this subject, but this verse 
(vs. 9) stands out in my mind, and I pray it will also encourage yours...

For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.

I pray your love for the presence of Our Savior will be the Light of your lives!! 
❤️ always, Mom


Lyrics:
Stepping in the Light

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Trying to follow our Savior and King;
Shaping our lives by His blessed example,
Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.

Refrain:
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Stepping in the light, stepping in the light,
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Led in paths of light.

Pressing more closely to Him Who is leading,
When we are tempted to turn from the way;
Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,
Happy, how happy, our praises each day.

Walking in footsteps of gentle forbearance,
Footsteps of faithfulness, mercy, and love,
Looking to Him for the grace freely promised,
Happy, how happy, our journey above.

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Upward, still upward, we follow our Guide;
When we shall see Him, “the King in His beauty,”
Happy, how happy, our place at His side.
Words: Eliza E. Hewett,1890