In the next couple of weeks I plan to start focusing on individual elements of weddings and the planning process, but today I want to continue to lay the foundation for what a Christ-centered, gospel-rich wedding actually is.

I think sometimes we can go too far in the direction of deflecting attention from ourselves that we actually think it's wrong to celebrate human love. That is not the point we hope to make in this book, and certainly not what I want readers to take away from the blog. Our Creator graciously gave us human love, and it is a reflection of His great love for us.

So how do we balance this? How do we celebrate the work of Christ in humility? How do we focus on the love of God while also celebrating the human love He has given us?

I love the way this balance is expressed in the following prayer by Tim Challies from a wedding he performed. Tim graciously gave us a couple of his wedding ceremony notes to use for our book.

Our Father in Heaven, In your perfect will and in your perfect timing you have brought us here today. You have brought us here together to celebrate the marriage of Jason and Leah.* We are looking forward to using the rest of this day to rejoice in what you are doing and what you have done. And it is our prayer that as you bring them together, as we delight in their love for one another, that we will make much of you. Even while this day is about them, about celebrating their union in marriage, let us make it first and foremost a day in which we celebrate who you are and what you have done. In the name of Christ I pray. Amen.

This is so beautifully said. May we make much of the loving Father as we rejoice and celebrate together.

I'm excited to witness a wedding this weekend that I know will have this focus and heart. There is nothing quite like seeing two people testify to God's goodness and grace as they come together and are made one by God, for His glory.

*Names have been changed