Love: Part 1

Tyler and I at Wicked before leaving for Israel

First day in Bethlehem...We're never silly :-) 

At a family garden in the West Bank, where we learned about the picture in the bible of the vine from John 15
PS Yes, Tyler dressed to match me after I he saw what I was wearing. He enjoys life's small pleasures (teasing me).

At one of our recent weddings. Yay, for Ashton and Cassie Arens! 

At another recent wedding (Jon and Becca Kramer!), I heard the song "Love is Not a Fight" sung by the one and only Michael Bibelheimer. What a good reminder....Although this post is somewhat a shout out to my honey, Tyler Tigges (who is truly a perfect gift from the Lord for me), this song really reveals something so, so much deeper. This is a love with Jesus Christ. So often in this new thing I'm experiencing called marriage, I see parallels to my love relationship with my Lord. Not only this, but when Tyler and I fail each other we are gracefully reminded by God that we always need to put our expectations in Him and not each other. Have any of you ever felt the pain of someone you care about betraying you, not reaching your expectations, or simply not caring? 

"Love is a shelter in a raging storm

Love is peace in the middle of a war

And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door

No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for"

I often fail my own expectations. I often am disappointed with how something turns out. I am hurt by others. All of these are graces from God to point us to our relationship with Him. I don't want to miss this message from Him. I want to know Him. I want to know Him intimately and see Him reflected in others. I want to recognize His voice in life. Love is worth fighting for....

Hebrews 12:1b-2 "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."