She Said Yes!!

     Oh, the beauty of young love.  The type of pure love, newly discovered and gently starting to bloom.  It is that moment in time every girl dreams of.  Words spoken over her that flow like the finest silk.  Words telling her how much she is loved and cherished. Treasured.  Words spoken from deep inside that one certain man's heart.  "Will you marry me?"  Doesn't the excitement of it just give you chills?  I know some of you reading are sitting there with a dreamy look in your eye caught up in the moment.
     This past week we celebrated the proposal and engagement of a special young couple.  My daughter and her boyfriend managed to make the trip to the special location and remain undiscovered as they snapped pictures and recorded the entire event.  At the end Daniel scooped Sara up in one arm, the other arm raised in what looked strangely like a Travolta Staying Alive pose, and yelled, "She said yes!"

     Caitlin put the pictures and videos together in a beautiful film so that Sara and Daniel can now relive this precious moment in their life time and time again.  We have watched it over and over and cried and cried.  As I watched, though, I couldn't help but think about Jesus. 
     In Malachi 1 we read the story about God telling his chosen people that he loved them.  A simple statement.  "I have loved you."  But those Israelites were stubborn.  They wanted proof.  They dared to ask the question we secretly wish we had the nerve to ask, "How have you loved us?"
     Have you ever dared to ask God how he has loved you?  Have you ever doubted that he really does love you?  Have you ever thought surely all this Bible stuff is good enough for others, but couldn't possibly apply to your own life?  It's ok.  Go ahead.  Ask Him.  Then, listen carefully to hear what He tells you in reply.  I would like to challenge you to keep a pencil and paper handy to make notes of the things He will reveal to you.
     That first chapter of Malachi goes on in the first few verses with God reminding the Israelites that He chose them.  Looking down the grand time-line of the universe, He knew the choices Esau would make.  He knew Jacob would be the one who loved God's ways.  Esau and his decendents would be the one to fulfill the desires of his flesh.  So, God intervened and the birthright went to Jacob.  Jacob, who later was renamed Israel, would continue the lineage of God's chosen people.  However, even the Israelite nation had begun to stray from God's law.  They were satisfied giving God second best.  Their heart was not pure nor was it focused on their first love. He needed them to realize that and return to him.
     It may seem like a stretch, but try to go there with me. Do you remember when you were a little girl and couldn't wait to see the cutest boy in class?  Do you remember how your heart would beat a little too fast?  Maybe you couldn't help but blush when he was around. Did you long for him to take your hand and then hope he wouldn't because they were sweating so much?
     Then you went to middle school and were SO much more mature.  That cute boy from fourth grade wasn't cool anymore.  Now you dreamed of the moment in time when that really super cool, super cute guy would look straight into your eyes and smiles his crooked smile. Just thinking of it now makes you sigh deeply, doesn't it?
     Oh, but he certainly wouldn't be your life mate.  For me it took years before God united my heart with THE ONE.  Mr. Right. The man who asked me that question on that one special night....will you marry me?
     Think about your relationship with Jesus.  If you're like me, you tried lots of other gods and idols and things and ideas before your heart was won by the One who created you.  It may have taken years and years before you recognized the purity and stability of His perfect love.  He may have had to woo you after you rejected Him time and again.  Then, finally, you realized you are nothing without Him.  Your purpose on earth is worthless without His divine direction.  You can't find anything or anyone else that gives you completeness the way He does.  Until you yield your prideful heart, surrender your selfish ambition, and accept the love that has been poured out on you from the begininging of time you will never completely understand the precious love that is being offered to you.    
     I believe that at the moment when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior He scoops us up in one arm and shouts for the heavens to hear...."She said YES!!"  Can't you hear His voice now?  Rejoice, my friend.  You are loved by The King of the universe.  There is no other love like this....He is waiting for you to say that precious word...yes.