{Pre-Wedding Pep Talk}

I know many couples getting married this summer and fall. Hoards of wedding advice and marriage tips are probably being tossed your way right about now, between bridal showers and in-laws and church friends and wedding blogs. I am sure most of the advice is valid, but remember that each marriage, each couple, each LIFE is very, very different. So instead of being overwhelmed (or thinking "Wow, I need to apply every piece of advice to my life RIGHT NOW") thank each person for their thoughts and tuck it away for when you really need it. 

That being said, I wanted to share a Bible verse that is really important to me and my husband. Think of this as a little pep-talk. Ephesians 4:2 - "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love." It's hard to always live like that, but remember that the Word of God is true and it keeps us in check with where our hearts are. Marriage is a balance of giving. You give your love, your time, and encouragement. And it might seem like a lot, but if you are each giving each other equal amounts of everything, you'll both be getting just what you need! 

<3 Stephanie

I Will Give You Rest {Devotional}

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I know many of us have heard this verse or parts of it many times, usually when life gets busy or things seem impossibly hectic. This past weekend, I was visiting my home church and during worship, the theme seemed to revolve around needing rest. Matthew 11:28-30 was shared and it was a fresh reminder for me that each day we are supposed to need God, it’s not expected that as we mature in our relationship with Christ we need Him less. In fact, the opposite is true.

As I mature in my walk with God, I see more and more how dependent I must be on Him. And when I’m dependent, it’s as if I am taking His yoke, letting Him carry my burdens, and allowing Him to give me rest. That's what he wants.

On the long drive home, I heard the song “I’ll Keep On” and the words hit me –

Faith is something I am not accustomed to
Trusting other people’s something I don't really love to do
It's like I'm standing in the rain and You offer me a raincoat
But I would rather stand there being wet than take the handout

Why don’t we let God give us rest from the things that toil in our minds? Is it that we don’t fully trust Him? Is it that we just aren’t used to having someone to rely on? Is it that we don’t actually believe God when He says he wants to relieve us of our burdens?

He loves us and cares for us more than we know and he wants us to come to Him; it is how he designed us – to need Him. So, let Him have everything weighing you down... He can handle it.



~ words by Ariel Kuhn

The Order of Blessings | Victoria Myers

   Today's blog post comes from a lovely blogger named Victoria. This is her debut post on Joie Mag and we are lucky to have her be a contributing blogger in the future! Thank you Victoria for writing from your heart and speaking the truth about our identity in Christ.

~*~

   Getting married at 22 years old must have sounded a little scary some people in my life. Not necessarily to my closest family and friends-- they were gracious and supportive. Instead it seemed like classmates, the lady at the nail salon, online articles, the grocery store clerk, and select others wanted to advise me otherwise. They were worried about all sorts of things—that I wouldn’t ever get to travel, or do an internship, that I wouldn’t get to enjoy living alone, that 22 is just too young and that I was probably just getting married for the whole wedding ordeal and a happy ever after type of thing.

     It probably wasn’t until a few months into my marriage that I realized they were right. Or, actually that they could be right. Not about the traveling, the internship, or the living alone—but that they could be right that my heart is capable of simply wanting to get married just for the sake of the backyard wedding, a name change, and a happily-ever-after-be-forever-satisfied-type of thing. Throughout our engagement I became more aware of this temptation, I was caught up in the whirlwind of planning our wedding and supporting two friends with theirs and in the process I was falling more in love with marriage. Which is a beautiful process and I’m grateful for the ways God spoke to my heart through our engagement about what marriage is and how He designed it to be. Grateful that He reminded me that my heart is indeed capable of wanting the wedding and the happy marriage more than Him. That somehow everything between the proposal and the aisle could make me more satisfied than His grace. That all the life to come after the vows we would make could somehow redeem me more than the Cross.

     Like, I said God graciously revealed this to me throughout our engagement which helped me choose Him first. Of course I was a sinner when I planned our wedding, a sinner when I said “I do,” and still a sinner as I continue to live out life with my husband—and choosing God first will only be something I succeed in with the work of Christ in my life. Being aware of this danger that my own heart could hold, I intentionally entered into marriage with an understanding that it’s not created to fulfill me, it will eventually disappoint me, and that my husband’s and my brokenness are made one in the same only through Christ’s work on the Cross.

     This allowed the start of our marriage to be real, flawed, and truly joyful as we sought to understand that our sinfulness only pointed to God’s perfectness, and that our end only pointed to a God that is never ending.

     Fast forward a glimpse into our marriage—the wedding pictures are now posted on Facebook and the wedding band on my ring finger feels like it’s always been there. Husband and I start dreaming up future baby names. We plan out our first girl and brainstorm for the first boy, and I had then created a note in my phone with a running list of possible names and at least four typed out names that we will absolutely use no matter what our in laws or coworkers say. Then I realize, I knew where my heart was going. Yearning for something beyond the now. Desiring something that God has not yet willed to me only because my heart wants to believe that it might fulfill and complete me.

     Through these moments I realized, it’s not that wedding dresses and baby names are things we cannot choose. Rather, we must choose the primary blessing before the secondary. Choose our Creator before the wedding dress, and our Father before the baby names. Throughout our engagement I was aware of the temptation to find my identity in getting married and becoming a wife, and once dreaming up baby names for the future littles I was placing my identity in my hopeful days of motherhood. My heart was seeking these titles to fulfill me, to give me value and worth. What a gift it is that these titles are not my identity, that instead it’s Christ’s work that has made me pure, whole, and redeemed. That I am a daughter of the most High and a vessel for His grace and truth to those He brings into my life. Whether I am a wife or a mother, it is the source of our Primary blessing that is my sure foundation which lets me live out my identity in Him and experience the secondary blessings He ordains for my days.

     Whether we are in the midst of the season or seasons away from the reality—we should find our identity in the Primary blessing, the redemption we received from Christ on the Cross and the live that we may live as God has gone behind, before, and with us. It is through this that we may truly appreciate the fullness, nature, and timing of the secondary blessings; that we may come to know His design for the gifts He has willed to us, and the timing He has ordained into our days. Praise Him with me-- the God who has given us such sweet blessings to worship Him for and such sweet dreams to wait on Him for.

Written by Victoria Myers | Images by Anna Christine Photography

{Devotional} Enough

Sometimes certain aspects of life get in the way of the things that really matter in the grand scheme of things. Like when work seems too big and the tasks of the day won't actually fit into a day, I start to feel inadequate and overwhelmed. I worry that people won't take my work seriously, or that I don't have enough of a 'following' to take my business to the next level. It's so easy to get focused on worth in regards to how 'well' we are doing, when in reality, our worth is worth SO much more than that.

Because of my reoccurring tendency of worrying about if people like me or not, the last few weeks have been dedicated to refreshing my heart about my identity in Christ. These two verses have been such a huge encouragement to me! 

"For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4)

“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.’” (Isaiah 43:10)

So whenever (because it does happen) you get overwhelmed. Or frustrated. Or worried that you aren't doing well enough in life... Remember: He chose you. God did! The God of the Universe! Chose YOU! To be holy. To be his child. And He knows you are worth it... that you are enough. 

~Stephanie 

{Devotional} Daily Faith

Have you ever looked up the verse that goes with our logo? It's a special one; Zephaniah 3:17. I thought it would be good to go a little more in depth about this verse and how it affects our lives and our walk with our Savior.

Zephaniah 3:17 King James Version (KJV)

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

This verse speaks about when the Lord comes back and sets up his Kingdom. He will save those that have repented and turned to him, and show forth both his mighty strength and love. This is a great promise that the Lord has given us, but how do we know this promise is for us?

The Bible clearly states multiple times to examine our faith daily.

2 Corinthians 13:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?

There should be no question that Jesus Christ lives in us. We are to work out our faith with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:12 King James Version (KJV)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Being a Christian doesn’t just mean that you said a prayer one day asking Jesus into your heart. It’s a daily action of offering your life to The King.

Galations 2:20 English Standard Version (ESV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Christian walk is a repentant heart and a relationship with The Savior.

So although Zephaniah 3:17 is an amazing promise from God, it is also a reminder to me that in order to gain from the promises of God, I should be working out my own faith daily with fear and trembling to see if I still be in the faith. 

~Taryn

Making Time to Study the Bible

If you've been reading Joie for a while, you know we like to write 'devotional' posts about what God has been teaching each of us lately. Sometimes it can be easier said than done to spend time with the Lord. Here are some ways to make sure your time with God is consistent each day.

Pick a Time: If you set your devotional time at the same general time each day (morning, afternoon, evening), you are more likely to remember to do it! I like mornings, because I know I'm starting my day off on the right path.

Pick a Place: Have your Bible, pen, journal, ect in a familiar place. When all your tools are in one spot, it's more convenient than running around looking for everything! My husband keeps his Bible on the dining room table so he remembers to do his devotions while he eats his breakfast. I have my Bible by my bed, because I like waking up and spending those first few moments of my day with God. Maybe you have a comfy chair or a screened in porch that you like to sit on. You can talk to God anywhere!

Pick a Scripture or a Plan: Some people like to read through a whole book of the Bible and some people like a devotional reading plan. The benefit of reading a whole book is that you get the whole story of what God intended. The benefit of going through a devotional plan is that you get a little guidance if you're not sure where to start. Either one is great and God will teach you through both!

A good method of study is the SOAP method.

S: Scripture. Read your passage of the day.
O: Observation. Write down what you think the Scripture means and ask God to help you discern it.
A: Application. Meditate on how you think it applies to your life. How does it change you?
P: Prayer. I find it helps if I write out my prayers. It helps my mind stay focused on God. It also lets me go back and read how God has worked in my life!

Stay Accountable: Tell your friends about what you've been learning and have them do the same. Encourage each other and pray for each other!

What have you been studying lately? What has God been teaching you? We'd love to hear about it! Leave us a comment! 

~Stephanie 

JOIE MAGAZINE : ISSUE ONE

Well! Here it is, friends! The first issue of Joie Magazine. We're excited to finally share it with you! Our vision is that Christian women will use this magazine for inspiration not only for their weddings, but their marriages. We believe in true love! God-centered marriages! Honest communication! Date nights! Long coffee chats with your best friends! You get the point. :) 

There’s a little bit of everything in this inaugural issue. Our readers are all in different places in their lives, and we hope and pray there is at least one article in this magazine that speaks right to your heart. 

We've been working on this passion project for the last 7 months. A lot of research was done on how to start a magazine, but believe it or not, we still aren't professional magazine-makers! This issue isn’t perfect. In fact, the reason it took so long to launch is that we wanted it to be perfect, but finally realized that it will never be that way! There are definitely some things that could be better, prettier and more eloquent.

But there is good news: God knows the direction this magazine will go and the kind of impact it has the potential to make. We are all praying for all you women who will read it, that it would be encouraging to you each time you read it!

We want you to be part of this Joie adventure. If you have article ideas or know any women who may want to contribute, or if you have feedback that you would like to share, please email us at joieweddings@gmail.com! 

Now, go enjoie Issue One! And stayed tuned in the next few weeks for news about our second issue and other exciting things!

Here we go!
Joie Magazine : Issue One

{Colossians 4:6}

Getting honest here. Yesterday morning was not a graceful morning for me. My words were not nice. They were sharp and judging. They were just plain mean. When I picked up my Bible, Colossians 4:6 was the first verse I read, and it was a very humbling wake-up call. I immediately texted my husband and asked for forgiveness, which he willingly gave.

There are so many verses in the Bible about how words either speak life or speak destruction. And after yesterday, I get it. It's so true that what we say directly effects who we are talking to - or talking about. Let's let this Bible verse be a reminder to us all to think before we speak, and let our words be filled with grace.

~ Stephanie

To download this computer background, first click HERE (it goes to our Flickr account), then find the three little dots on the left. Click those and choose 'download all sizes'. Then choose 'large'. Then click 'download'!

5 Days in Scripture // 30 Day Scripture Challenge Update

I've spent the last 5 mornings making a deliberate choice to spend time reading God's word. And it's been really refreshing. I've been reading mainly in Psalms, but today I wandered over to James 5. 

"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Sing songs of praise." James 5:13

I think most of us pray when things aren't going the way we expected... and that's great, the Bible tells us to do that! But how often do we sing songs of praise when we're happy? Like actually sing out loud! To praise Jesus! I'm going to make a point of doing that more often!

If you're interested in joining the 30 Day Scripture Challenge, you should check out the hashtag #lampandlight on Instagram. Don't worry about starting 5 days late, just continue 5 days into June! And, well, forever. :) 

~ Stephanie 

P.S. Follow Joie Mag on Insta, too! 

He Cares {Devotional}

We all know that God is a strong and powerful God. He rules over all the nations, and power and might are in His hand (2 Chronicles 20:6). He always knows what is going on. Anything is possible through Him (Matthew 19:26).

But what about the other side of God? His gentle side. His caring side.
Like a sweet friend, God cares for you. He wants to know your worries, and he wants to help you through them. He is always looking for ways to take care of you! 

Don't be ashamed to cry out your troubles to the strong and mighty God of the universe, the God who also wants to make sure you have everything you need. He takes care of the birds of the sky, you know. Do you believe he will take care of you? (hint: you should :) )

~*~

Enjoy this fresh spring day, friends! 
~Joie Mag team

Speak Love

Good morning Joie blog readers! We have a special guest blogging for us today! Pastor DD, from Elevation Chapel in Newton, MA, is going to give us a different perspective on a very important verse in the Bible and how she knows it will strengthen your marriage. Thanks so much for this wonderful post, DD! 

~*~

In my 15 years of ministry, and 7 years of pre-marital and marriage counseling I’ve pretty much seen and heard it all… My husband and I always make it a point to get to know each couple, both as individuals and as a unit. So, this being my first blog post EVER, I thought it would be fitting to open with the best~ what I consider to be the most valuable piece of advice for each and every couple, in any stage of your relationship.

In literally 90% of the weddings I’ve witnessed, this scripture is given as one of the ceremonial readings. Even when a couple isn’t “religious”, this has been the reading of choice for so many. I believe the reason is that this verse is so timeless and widely applicable (also why I’m choosing to focus on this!). I also believe this verse has the power to strengthen and even save relationships.

The verse is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Now, I’m sure half of you probably just skimmed that passage because you’ve heard it so many times! But hear me out… Let’s try something… Read this verse again, except this time, replace the words “love is” with the phrase, “Because I love __________, I will be _________.” Or, “I will not be _________.” as the case may be.

So now for me, the verse reads as follows: “Because I love Max (my husband), I will be patient and kind. Because I love Max, I will not be boastful or proud or rude. I will not demand my own way. Because I love him, I will not be irritable (that’s a tough one for me!), and I will keep no record of being wronged. Because I love Max, I will not rejoice in injustice (or be happy when he is wrong) but will rejoice whenever the truth wins out (I will rejoice when he is right.). Because I love Max, I will never give up on him, never lose faith in him, always be hopeful for him, and my love for him will endure through every circumstance.”

Words are powerful. The Bible says the power of life and death is in the tongue. I truly believe that, because I’ve seen it in so many and experienced it first-hand in my near 18 years of marriage. The words we speak directly affect the circumstances we are in. Regardless of whether you have been together for a week, a year, or twenty years, remind yourself of this verse. Even read it aloud, together… Because when you model your love after this, your relationship will reflect God’s pure and perfect love.

Love & Blessings,

Pastor DD

{Devotional} Delight

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, 
and on his law he meditates day and night." {Psalm 1:2}

What brings you delight? A quick stop into your favorite bakery? Hiking with your loved ones in the spring? Cuddling up with a good book? It could be all of the above!

We read in Psalms that delight is knowing God's words by heart and immersing yourself daily in what He has to say. And when we constantly do this? We become like the trees planted by the river. They are the healthiest, producing the most fruit, and not withering.

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, 
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither." {Psalm 1:3}

Let this be an encouragement to you today, to take a break from your crazy day and drink your water. Let God's word overflow in you!

~*~

If you're at work and don't have a Bible with you, download the Bible app (by YouVersion) for your phone! It's great to have the Bible with you all the time. :)

{love}stephanie