Our Vows

Our wedding vows were one of the most important parts of our ceremony. We understand the seriousness of a vow. It is more than a promise; it is the seal of the covenant. God, who is perfect, just and holy will be holding us to these vows. If and when a vow is broken you have not just wronged the other person, but it is an affront to God and he will hold you accountable and meet out punishment. Though our entire ceremony was joyous, in both of our hearts we felt a certain solemnity and seriousness with our vows...and as we said them we were both on the edge of tears. :)

We both knew we wanted the traditional vows at our ceremony. I (Elysse) had also written personal vows shortly after I knew Lucas was "the one" but before we were ever engaged. The more we talked about our family vision the more we came to the conclusion that both traditional and personal vows would reflect the purposes for our commitment and marriage. You may note that the only difference between our traditional vows is that the word "obey" is inserted in my vows to Lucas. I was so disappointed to find out that most women do not include "obey". Unfortunately, feminism has caused women to believe that if they vow to obey their husbands they will be treated like children or some such silly notion. I have written on this extensively in "Fathers and Daughters: Raising Polished Cornerstones", but submission to one's husband is God's design and is very freeing and gives a woman comfort, security, and boldness to move forward in her calling as a wife, woman and full partner in the marriage.

I, Lucas, take you Elysse, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish according to the ordinance of God, until death do us part.

Elysse, you are my treasure

i will love you with my heart mind and strength even as I love my own body

i will sacrifice my desires for your welfare

i will take you with me to the spiced mountains of adventure

i will fight with you for the kingdom to come

i will be your refuge and counselor in God

i will direct your children and train them up in God's ways

i will be your pitcher refreshing you with God's words

i will be your equal in sin and God-given rights

i will respect you and what God has forged

i will pray assiduously for our union

i will tend our vineyards with you

i will set you as a seal upon my heart

_______

I, Elysse, take you Lucas, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish and obey according to the ordinance of God, until death do us part.

Lucas, you are my best friend

and first and only love.

Before God and these witnesses

I acknowledge that I must always seek Jesus first

so that I may love and respect you fully and well.

I vow to make that my daily goal

from this moment forward.

My heart belongs to you only

all the days of my life.

As God gave Adam a helper

so do I promise to help, serve, and encourage you

in your calling.

Your vision and purpose is mine.

You are now my leader and head.

Where you go I will gladly follow.

I covenant with you

to live out God's purpose for our family

bringing glory and honor to Him

and truth and light to the culture

through the generations we leave behind.

Wedding Scripture Passages

Some have asked what Scripture passages were read at our wedding, and why.

Every bit of our ceremony had much thought, prayer, and intentionality behind it - including the Scripture passages. While it is still fresh in our mind we want to share about different parts of it.

Many people have a passage about love at their wedding. Even though I Corinthians 13 is one of our absolute favorites, we wanted a passages specific to each of us that would remind us of our calling in Christ.

My grandfather, as a representative of the Godly heritage that both of us have been blessed with began the reading with Job 29, verses 12 to 25 - the Biblical standard for a Godly man. Job seems to some like an odd role model, but God continually rewards and blesses him for his character and calls Job righteous. Our culture would do well to look to Job as the standard for raising Christian warriors. (Lucas' favorite verse is 17...any surprise?)

"I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners."

The second passage was a call to Godly womanhood that we ladies should never tire of hearing and challenging ourselves to aspire to. Proverbs 31, verses 10 to 30 took on an entirely new and deeper meaning hearing it as I stood on the brink of becoming a married woman and fully stepping in to the calling that God has for my life. (I think verse 25 is my favorite.)

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."

A sneak peek at our wedding photos!

For all of you who have been waiting on the edge of your seat...here's a few photos :)

I know, I know...the anticipation is hard to stand! We'll try to get some more up soon :) In the meantime we'll be doing our best to make this blog site our new family blog and putting updates here on a regular basis. -Lucas and Elysse

Watch our Wedding live!

If you are unable to join us in person for our wedding we would love to have you watch our wedding live!

Please join us at 11:00 am Mountain Time on Saturday, April 14th.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE WEDDING!

-Lucas and Elysse

PS - if you are unable to join us for the live web stream of the wedding it will be recorded and archived :)