Hi Church,

A beautiful weekend of family was celebrated by all. Thank you to all generations that played a part in presenting a highly engaging and Holy Spirit led gathering time together at Grace Church. Amanda and I had a lovely time away, celebrating family and friends in a wedding.

 Weddings are so special and this one was outstanding in its expression of love of family and appreciation of each other. Christian weddings are a great testimony because they are a metaphor for our love and unity in us the Bride being united with Jesus our eternal Husband and head. St. Paul in writing to the Ephesian church in Chapter 5 says that …. “Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”.

 When we saw the Bride last Saturday she was indeed radiant. Her smile, her dress, her presentation spoke of perfection and transformation into something holy before her husband. It’s incredible to think we all will be transformed into this same image as one body presented to Jesus.

I know some days we barely feel like getting out of bed and we live in a perpetual bad hair day! BUT by His Grace, he changes, he washes, he transforms us, to be better than we ever thought possible. To be radiant!

In Revelation 21 The Angel shows John the disciple the fullness of the bride to be.

““Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal”.

Let’s not live down to how we feel, but lets live up to who He is transforming us to be. For that is a greater truth. We long for that perfect union. Just as it says in the book of Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and The Bride say to Jesus, Come!

Until the Lord comes to take us to himself in that moment in Glory we are on the road of transformation. Our Highs and Lows, sad times and good times are all working together to form us, shape us and change us into the Bride of His making. So lets embrace the journey.

God bless you for your contribution.

Ps Greg and Amanda

20th June 2023