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Welcome back to Dorie's Stories {devotional} Blog!!!
This post is special because it was written by a special person, my daughter Makenna! No, she is not getting married quite yet!!! The title may be misleading if that is what you thought.
She had written this devotional story on her missions stay in the Middle East and I believe it is a powerful word that I wanted to share with you!
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"Here Comes the Bride," by Makenna Mclemore
Growing up as the girl who planned weddings for her Barbies™ and was addicted to watching “Say Yes to the Dress,” you would think I would have a better understanding of what it means when the Bible talks about being the bride of Christ.
In fact, most of my life I would have described myself in God’s presence as a wedding crasher.
I grew up in the church with pastors for parents and most family members being devoted believers who worked in ministry. I watched the way they lived and fell in love with the body, with the church, with going through the motions.
I loved being the last people to leave church on Sunday mornings, being behind the scenes during church events, volunteering in kids’ ministry, leading Bible studies and going on mission trips.
What I wasn’t understanding was in order for their works to matter and be useful to the kingdom, they had to be faith-filled. Behind every church event or ministry opportunity my parents and other leaders in ministry were spending time in prayer and worship and intimacy with Jesus.
I suddenly realized I had been operating without faith, without relationship, without first-hand revelation.
I began to picture a wedding reception. Guests were scattered around a beautiful venue, there was music playing, people dancing and talking. There were so many people! And yet it seemed as though everyone I talked to somehow intimately knew the groom, Jesus.
They had such a genuine relationship with Him, and they believed that I do too because I sound and look like them. I began to panic realizing I can’t picture the groom’s face, I can’t recall the sound of His voice, I’m not sure anymore if I even know His name.
Suddenly, I’m embarrassed to be there. I’m terrified that the groom will find me, that the music will stop and everyone will look at me and watch Him say, “Who are you? Why are you here? I don’t know you.”
I described all this to my mom on the phone one night when I was strongly feeling this imposter syndrome. She kept repeating, “No, Makenna — you’re the bride, you’re the bride.”
At the time that didn’t make much sense, but about a month later God brought me back to the picture of that cursed wedding reception. I was in the middle of a worship time and couldn’t understand why God would bring that picture back up when it had caused me so much pain.
He told me He wanted to show me how He sees that scenario. I’m still hiding on the outskirts of the party, trying to avoid Jesus’ eyes, but this time when He finds me He takes my hand. The music stops and everyone turns to look, watching Him say, “Beloved, where have you been? I have been looking for you, come sit by me.”
I realized that in this version I was in a white dress — I was the bride.
Now I understand that regardless of whether or not I feel qualified to be in Jesus’ presence, He invites me in. He chooses me. He delights in partnering with me. He calls me His bride.
“As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”
Isaiah 62:5
Reflect & Journal:
Have there been times in your life that you felt unworthy to be included in the description of the church as Christ's bride? Maybe you felt like you were a wedding crasher and don't even belong in God' presence. The truth is that it doesn't depend on all the things we think we need to do to deserve His love...we only need a relationship with Him.
Draw a picture of yourself in your journal (even if it's a stick person) in a wedding gown and write out the words of the Scripture above:
“As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5
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I hope you enjoyed this special guest devotional! Feel free to share it with someone you think would enjoy a devotional story involving playing wedding with Barbies™ and what that has to do with God's unconditional love and acceptance of us.
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With hope & joy, Dorie Mclemore
P.s. next time, I’m planning to post another devotional story excerpt from my book, Hope Looks Good on You! A Comedian's Joy-inducing Daily Devotional for Women. Make sure you are subscribed at the link above to get the notification in your inbox!
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